Rev. Dr. Jim Holley Helps Coordinate Life-Saving Heart Surgery for African Women in Detroit

By Donald James

In the capital city of Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa – 5,020 miles from Detroit – the days of Mercy Yango were once filled with boundless energy and spiritual engagement rooted in Liberian traditions with close family and friends. However, life for Mercy took a turn for the worse when, not long ago, the 37-year-old mother of three started experiencing heart-related issues that she couldn’t ignore. She was ultimately diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition beyond the scope of what local clinics and hospitals in Liberia could medically treat.

After all, Liberia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has one of the globe’s most fragile health infrastructures. WHO estimates that there may be one or two medical doctors for every 100,000 individuals of the almost five million people living in Liberia. Much of the fragility of the healthcare system has been attributed to a brutal and deadly civil war that raged from 1989 to 1996. In addition, thousands of Liberians were stricken and killed by the deadly Ebola virus disease from 2014 to 2015, which further crippled an already decimated medical system.

Nevertheless, Mercy’s severe heart condition was worsening by the day, which prompted a long-distance call for help to Rev. Dr. Jim Holley in Detroit. Holley, who retired as senior pastor of the Historic Little Rock Baptist Church in the Motor City after 50 years in the pulpit in 2022, was no stranger to Liberia or any other country in the Motherland. He had visited Liberia seven times and adopted three children from the African country’s largest city 37 years ago. Holley was ready to help from afar through his Rev. Dr. Jim Holley International Ministries, formed seven years ago to connect the world to Christ. His Ministries are now in 179 countries.

“Her doctors in Liberia had exhausted every option possible in the country – and perhaps across the entire continent of Africa – to provide the rare heart surgery that Mercy Yango needed,” Holley told the Michigan Chronicle. “The last hope to save her life was to transport her to Detroit for advanced treatment from one of America’s great and storied hospitals, Henry Ford Health.

Holley went to work to find a way to do what at first appeared impossible. However, things began to unfold after Holley contacted a friend, Dr. Wassim Younes, in Dearborn, Michigan, who made a series of calls. Mercy ultimately was flown to Detroit to receive the life-saving operation needed at Henry Ford Hospital.

Through Dr. Usamah Mossallam, vice president and medical director of Henry Ford Health International Initiatives in Detroit, an incredible medical team of specialists was formed, based on identifying a foundation agreeing to pay 60% of the total cost of the complicated surgery which, hovered in the area of $450,000. Holley agreed to pay the other 40%.

After arriving in Detroit in early July, Mercy, her mother, and an aunt were provided complimentary housing accommodations at Hotel Saint Regis on the city’s west side, less than a mile from Henry Ford Hospital. However, Mercy had to be treated for unforeseen complications before the delicate heart surgery could proceed. Yet, in mid-July 2024, the surgery went forward and was deemed highly successful.

“We are so grateful to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. and the foundation that  made this surgery possible,” said Mercy’s mother (Esther Yango) and aunt (Ophelia Yango), both of whom traveled with Mercy from Liberia. “We are also grateful to the owners, management, and staff at Hotel Saint Regis Hotel for their complimentary and gracious hospitality for us to stay at their beautiful hotel near Henry Ford Hospital, where Mercy received excellent medical care. We are so grateful to Rev. Dr. Jim Holley International Ministries and Dr. Holley’s personal role in coordinating everything necessary to bring Mercy to Detroit and save her life. And we are grateful to so many Detroiters who we’ve met and have shown us love during this difficult time.”

“I have always had the confidence of Detroiters to do the right thing to help people in need,” Holley said. “In my 50 years as a pastor in this great city, along with my other humanitarian and philanthropic work, I have seen the people of Detroit always rise to meet the moment at hand. And I can’t thank Henry Ford Health enough for its significant role in all of this.”

Mercy is currently in Henry Ford Hospital’s ICU and is expected to remain in Detroit for a while before returning to Monrovia, Liberia. The hospital, at this time, will not comment on the international humanitarian story.

“I am now trying to pay the 40% I promised to save Mercy’s life,” said Holley. “Through my outreach to friends and others in the city, I have come up with about $67,000 of the $181,000.     I am currently working to raise the remaining balance of about $114,000. So, I’m calling on Detroiters, Metro Detroiters, businesses, philanthropists, and foundations to answer the call and help me pay the balance of Mercy’s medical cost that has allowed her to live.”

A GoFundMe has just been created for persons and organizations wanting to help Holley with the backend of Mercy Yango’s cardiovascular surgery medical expenses. To help, log on to www.GoFundMe.com and enter Rev. Dr. Jim Holley International Ministries in the search bar to make contributions. For more information, call 313.871.2800.