Our Patients
Abel, 2015
On the afternoon of June the 18th 2015 Abel was attacked by a hyena while playing with his friends outside his compound in a little Ethiopian village, Debena. Abel was 5 years old.
The boy was dragged 400 yards by the vicious animal, whose strong grip crushed the boy’s skull and ripped off his lower jaw.
Miraculously the savaged boy was pulled out of the jaws of the hyena by his mother, who followed her maternal instinct to save her son, blindly putting her own life at risk.
The unconscious boy was taken to a local health post immediately and referred to a local hospital in Hosina, where his parents were told that there is no hope for his survival unless he gets transported to one of the better equipped hospitals in Addis. When Abel and his parents finally reached Addis after 7 hours journey through rural Ethiopia he was admitted to St. Pauls Hospital’s maxillofacial unit where he was operated on by Ethiopian surgeons.
After the attack the boy had lost his lower jaw, lips, cheek, right ear and part of his tongue so he couldn’t eat or speak; he had to be fed through nasal tubes. Abel’s dad saw a Facing Africa poster at St Paul Hospital. One of the Facing Africa staff received a call from the desperate father seeking help. Facing Africa staff in Ethiopia went and spoke to the dad at St Paul’s. They took pictures of Abel and sent these to our office in the UK.
Subsequently our surgeons operated on Abel for 9 hours constructing a new lower jaw (the first of such an operation to take place in Africa) which will make eating, drinking and speaking possible. Thanks to Facing Africa volunteer surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses, Abel will be able to have some of his old life back. As he grows older Abel will be able to have further surgery to continue to improve the function of his lower jaw.
Zinash, 2017
You might remember Zinash from our 2017 channel 5 documentary, Zinash developed a huge facial tumour (ossifying fibroma) which was slowly preventing her from breathing normally and eating. As the tumour grew larger it started to affect her life – not only was it painful but she was unable to eat solid food, unable to go to school and was forced to hide her face in public due to bullying. Zinash was referred to Facing Africa by the Mother Teresa organisation in Addis Ababa – a haven for the destitute and dying. Previously she had been seen by doctors at various government hospitals who were unable to offer her any help due to the size and complexity of her tumour.
Once Zinash had been seen by one of our teams, we set out the planning of a major reconstructive operation that required DePuis TRUMATCH personalised virtual pre-planning between Kelvin Mizen, Facing Africa’s lead surgeon and people in Switzerland and Belgium. Our team in Ethiopia arranged for Zinash to have CT scans of her lower legs, X-rays and a biopsy to ensure that the tumour was benign. The planning took about 3 months and was funded entirely by the generosity and goodwill of Johnson & Johnson. Finally, Facing Africa’s team of outstanding and very experienced surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses excised the tumour that weighed 5 kg and performed a total jaw reconstruction using a free flap and bone from her fibula in an operation that took 11 hours. One of the most moving moments was when Zinash recovered from the operation and one of our nurses handed her a mirror to see her new face. She was unable to smile for several days but the look in her eyes said it all. It was as though she had experienced a miracle. Gone was a 5 kg mass protruding from her mouth with teeth randomly scattered around the tumour. Her father, who had been beside her throughout her ordeal could not believe that man can perform such amazing life-saving feats that used a bone from her leg and tissue from her body to enable her to return to a normal life again. Her father, a farmer in the north of Ethiopia had sold one of his two cows to pay for the bus fare to bring her to Addis for her operation. Following three weeks of recovery at Facing Africa House on the outskirts of Addis where Zinash met and befriended several other Facing Africa patients with severe facial deformities, she was discharged and went home to show off her new and beautiful smiling face.
Zinash attended annual check-ups with Facing Africa to ensure that she was healthy and there were no complications. The Facing Africa team last saw her in 2019, when her mandibular plate had become partially exposed. The team used a local flap to reconstruct and cover her plate.
In September 2020 we received some worrying news about Zinash. She was experiencing severe pain in her knee and was unable to walk or put pressure on it. Her father took her to a local hospital where they ran tests and without any explanations told Zinash they needed to amputate her leg. This being during the middle of lockdown in most of Europe, we needed to refer Zinash without delay to Dr Kjell Kiplesund, Medical Director of the Nordic Medical Centre in Addis Ababa. Our Ethiopian Country Manager, Selam promptly arranged for Zinash to travel to Addis. After a thorough examination, tests and scans, Dr Kjell unhappily confirmed that Zinash has Sarcoma. This was the cause of the tumour on her very swollen knee and it has spread to her skull, lungs and abdomen.
Although sarcomas at this advanced stage are generally untreatable, Dr Kjell amputated her leg above the knee which reduced the pain that Zinash had been suffering for months. In spite of these traumatic events and amputation, Zinash had her usual bright smiling eyes and grin on her face.
The prognosis for Zinash is bleak, she now weighs just 21 Kg (3.4 stone) but with the help of the NMC, Zinash will now be pain-free and as comfortable as possible. Just a few days ago after a 3 week stay in hospital, her father decided to take Zinash back home to care for her with the rest of her family around, with a generous supply of drugs and pain killers that Dr Kjell gave her just before she was driven back to her village . This whole recent episode has brought tears to the eyes of all our volunteers who came in contact with Zinash over the past three years. Selam our local manager phones her almost daily to ask how she is feeling, and we are all pleased to hear that she is smiling and pain-free. Everyone has done their best for Zinash, especially her Father who is eternally grateful to Facing Africa but deep down is dreading the day that his beautiful daughter will pass away.
Zinash sadly lost her battle in late November 2020, she passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. She will be greatly missed by all the Facing Africa team. Anybody who had ever met Zinash and seen her smiling eyes and lips will never forget her.
Sumaya, 2015
Sumaya is an 8 year old Ethiopian girl from a small village near Jimma. Until a year ago Sumaya was a happy and sociable little girl, enjoying school and popular among her friends. In 2015 she started to develop a swelling around her nose, her father took her to the local hospital who referred her to Black Lion in Addis Ababa. Since developing the tumour Sumaya’s began exploiting her appearance, she became the families main source of income as a beggar on the streets of Addis Ababa. The swelling grew at an alarming rate and within 6 months it grew into the swelling you can see in the photos below. Fortunately, someone at Black Lion Hospital knew about Facing Africa’s twice yearly surgical visits and put Sumaya’s father in contact with our Ethiopian manager in Addis Ababa.
Our teams first sent her for a CT scan followed by a biopsy in order to establish the case and possible treatment. Sumaya has a mid-face ossifying fibroma that was growing larger by the day. Her condition was so advanced that it was possible she could die on the operation table but without surgery she would likely die in a matter of months. Her 7 hour operation was led by Hiroshi Nishikawa and assisted by Paul Wilson, they were able to remove the tumour leaving a huge mid-face cavity before closing the wound. Sumaya was only give a 50% chance of survival when entering the operating room, now not only did she survive she is also able to eat, drink and breathe. When Sumaya is fully grown she will have further surgery to move her eyes closer together.
Lealem, 2008
We first met Lealem in 2008 when he was only 13 years old. His father brought him after the incident where the boy fell into the generator propeller, which destroyed his upper lip, forehead and his back. He had 6 reconstructive operations with FA over the last 10 years and is one of the few patients who grew up throughout our charities care. It is amazing to see his transformation and his childhood dream of becoming a doctor come true. He is currently completing his plastic surgery training at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa.
Lealem said he was inspired by the work Facing Africa surgeons do in Ethiopia and wanted to do the same. After having his minor scar surgery in May 2019, Lealem went on to help at Facing Africa House in Menagesha, replacing our junior doctor for couple of days. He also attended various surgical meetings and observed surgery to continue learning and developing his skills.
Mohamed, May 2019
At just the age of 35, Mohamed’s life was under threat from a large mid- facial tumour. Facing Africa volunteer medical team predicted that without the removal of his tumour, Mohamed would only have a matter of months before it affected his breathing, subsequently leading to his death. He was unable to eat properly and losing weight at a rapid rate.
In May 2019 Mohamed had two surgeries to remove his lift threatening tumour and re-build the roof of his mouth using a free rectal muscle harvest. Both operations took many hours, Mohamed woke up with a new face and a new hope of life. He recovered well at Facing Africa House, we are looking forward to reviewing him soon.
Romana,
May 2019
Romana is 40 years old, 3 years ago she noticed a small growth on the inside of her cheek. As time went on this tumour began to grow at an alarming rate. As it progressed it displaced a number of Romana’ s teeth this was causing her a great deal of discomfort. She was struggling with simple tasks like talking, and eating, she was also being bullied in the streets due to her appearance.
The Facing Africa team were able to remove her tumour completely, they also extracted the teeth that were causing her pain. When Romana awoke from her life changing surgery she was handed a mirror. Romana burst out with happiness, she was in total disbelief that the tumour had gone. She stared at the mirror for some time, thanking and hugging the Facing Africa medical team.
Alemnesh, May 2019
At only two weeks old, Alemnesh started developing a supraorbital lesion by her left eye. Now 7 years old it had continued to enlarge in size, starting to affect her vision. Alemnesh told our teams that she was being bullied in her village because of her appearance.
Our teams were able to completely remove the haemangioma from Alemnesh’s forehead. All the Facing Africa team felt very lucky to have met Alemnesh’s, she was a ray of sunshine, always happy and smiling. We’re looking forward to seeing her again for a review in a year.
Ousman, October 2019
Ousman was bitten by a hyena many years ago, this left him without an upper lip or nose.his injury meant he had hidden his face at fear of rejection from the community. Losing his upper lip and nose made it difficult for him to complete normal tasks like speaking, eating and drinking. On his way to surgery Ousman had a dance with our volunteer anaesthetist Grant so excited for his surgery.
Our team created him an upper lip using a radial forearm flap. Ousman awoke from surgery like a ray of sunshine, dancing again with our volunteers nurses. He’s now able to smile for the first time in many years, Ousman recovered well at Facing Africa House. Our volunteer team will see him again in October 2020 to create him a new nose.
Derebe, October 2019
Derbe, 49 was in a road traffic accident in August 2019. The accident has left Derebe with a serious head injury, she’d been walking around with a large hole in her forehead. This open forehead wound was at serious risk of infection, it was also causing Derebe a great deal of pain.
Our teams used a radial forearm free flap to reconstruct her forehead, they then took a skin graft from her thigh to cover her forearm. Derebe was so grateful for her life saving surgery, she couldn’t stop smiling. She made a good recovery at Facing Africa House.
Nyaluok, May 2019
At just 1 year old Nyaluok’s mother noticed a small mark appearing on her cheek, over the coming days Nyauok was left with an open wound. This was Noma, it left her with an hole in her cheek that leaked when she had any fluid in her mouth.
Now 9 years old, Nayaluok has received her first surgery with Facing Africa, our surgeons were able to close her wound and remove a worm from her foot. Nyaluok recovered well and has no further issues with eating for drinking.
Shitaye, 2017
Shitaye first came to Facing Africa in May 2017, over the last 7 years her upper lip and tip of her nose had been increasing in size which was thought to be Hemangioma. She received her first surgery with us in May 2018 to reduce the size of her upper lip. She then had her 2nd surgery with Facing Africa in May 2019 which reduced the tip of her nose.
We've attached some photos for you to see her transformation with Facing Africa. The first photo is before Shitaye's surgery, the 2nd is before her second surgery, 3rd & 4th are Shitaye after her last surgery in May 2019.
She looks fantastic!
Tiru, 2018
Tiru developed Noma in her childhood leaving her with a large opening on her right cheek and loss of the side of her nose and upper lip.
She’s been living with this for over 35 years, it has made simple things like eating and drinking very difficult.
Tiru has now had two operations with Facing Africa, one in 2018 and another in 2019. Our highly skilled surgical team released her trismus and reconstructed her right cheek with a radial forearm free flap and a left ALT flap.
Tiru is very happy with her results so far, they’ve changed her life. Facing Africa will review her again on our next mission for further reconstructive surgery.
Mistekima, March 2010
Mistekima was featured in a BBC documentary 'Make Me A New Face' with Ben Fogle in 2011. Mistekima was one of Facing Africa's first big surgeries, her injuries were caused by noma, a flesh eating disease.
Mistekima has now had 7 surgeries with Facing Africa since 2010, her latest one was in May 2019 to reconstruct her nose with a cartilage graft. Now 19 years old Mistekima returns to Facing Africa House each May to see the medical team, many of whom she first met 9 years ago. She's pictured below with Professor David Dunaway who was the lead surgeon in her first major surgery.
To watch 'Make Me A New Face’ Please click here.
