New life after surgery - Dandenong Leader
Teen recovering after operation to remove tumour
SURGEONS at Dandenong Hospital have reconstructed a teenager’s jaw using bone from her lower leg. Sani Haekase is recovering in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after an operation to have a facial tumour around her jaw removed.The 16-year-old was flown to Melbourne from Indonesia last month for the pro bono operation on October 23.
Known as an ameloblastoma, the benign tumour developed four years ago and has grown rapidly since. ‘‘I didn’t think anything of it when it started growing. It was just a bump,’’
Sani told the Leader, through an interpreter, before the operation. ‘‘I was taken to the hospital, which was several hours away from my village. They told me to have it removed but I was too scared.’’
Sani’s trip was sponsored by members of the CityLife Church in Melbourne and organised by missionary nurse Rayma Tracy.
‘‘She’s doing well; the surgeons are pleased with everything,’’ Mrs Tracy said last week.
The teenager lives in a Timor Island village named Ajobaki with her parents and seven siblings.
Even the tumour could not stop the keen sportswoman playing soccer, cracking jokes or cooking, which was one of her favourite pastimes.
‘‘I think the hardest part of the operation for her was having to fast beforehand,’’ Mrs Tracy said.