Kindest cut

By Bridget Cook
A GROUP of Dandenong Hospital surgeons and doctors donated their time on Saturday to perform a life-changing operation on a young girl from West Timor.
Sixteen-year-old Sani had a tumour about 26 centimetres long by 16 centimetres wide, weighing two kilograms, removed from the right side of her jaw, in an extensive 15-hour operation.
Four surgeons, five anaesthetists and about 20 nursing staff donated their time and services across the day and Dandenong Hospital allowed the use of the room free-of-charge.
Dandenong Hospital plastic surgeon James Leong said the surgery was successful, despite taking longer than expected.
“It turned out as good as we expected,” he said.
“Sani is now recovering in the Intensive Care Unit, and will for about the next five days and then spend about 10 days in the general plastic surgery ward.”
Mr Leong said the tumour had been growing for years.
“It had deformed her face and she had difficulty eating and talking,” he said.
“The tumour also caused social and emotional issues. People who didn’t know her looked at her like she was a monster.”
Mr Leong said he was proud to be involved in the surgery.
“It was a privilege for both me and my colleagues to be involved,” he said. “We were all up to the challenge.”
The surgery involved cutting out a bone from Sani’s leg to put in her jaw.
Sani was brought over to Australia for the surgery by missionary and nurse Rayma Tracy.
Ms Tracy works in Timor and met Sani four years ago when the tumour was “tiny”.
“I visited Sani again in January this year and the tumour had grown excessively,” she said. “I then asked her family if they would be interested in me taking Sani to Australia to have the tumour removed, and they said yes.”
Without a public health system in West Timor, Sani’s family was unable to afford an operation of its type. Mr Leong also said that the doctors would not have the medical equipment and facilities to perform an operation of its extent.
Talking before her operation, Sani said she was a bit afraid but also excited for the surgery.
“I feel like I’m strong with many of my family and friends praying for me,” she said.
“I have a strong faith in God.”