After a lifetime of struggling to eat, drink and speak, Natalia Apaseray will have a severe facial deformity operated on in Sydney.
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The West Papuan woman was born with neurofibromatosis, a condition that has resulted in the malformation of the right side of her face.
Her story was read by Rotary Club of Bendigo Strathdale president Greg Penno, which inspired the club to raise money and work with overseas Rotary clubs to give Natalia a chance at a normal life.
“When I became aware of it, I asked Natalia to write about how life was for her,” Mr Penno said.
“It brings tears to your eyes. She got through primary school alright but stopped going to secondary school because of taunts from other students.
“It was challenging meeting her. You look at photos but then you come face-to-face and think ‘how did it get to this?’.”
Natalia was flown to Sydney last week for a a series of medical appointments and tests ahead of surgery early next year.
“She will be be provided an extensive schedule for surgery and is due back in late February,” Mr Penno said.
“It is anticipated there will be two or three major surgeries and some touch ups. We are expecting her to be in Australia for 12 months (while that happens).”
“In Sydney she expressed that she's keen to have (the surgery) progressed and can't believe how many people that don’t know her have given up time for free.”
The team of specialists that will work on Natalia includes plastic surgeons, a cardiothoracic surgeon, an ear nose and throat surgeon, ophthalmologist, an interventional radiologist, a clinical psychologist and three anaesthetists.
“It is a case of complexity that we as surgeons have never seen before,” Liverpool Hospital surgical specialties director Michael Kernohan said.
“The surgeries and treatment aren’t foreign to us, but putting together such a broad multidisciplinary team is a unique situation.”
Mr Penno said it was an almost 12 month project to bring Natalia to Australia.
Photos of her condition were shown to a hospital in Penom Penh, who declined the surgery because of the risk of significant blood loss.
“We saw the photos in February after working on the MEC (Meningoencephalocele) Project in Penom Penh,” he said.
“It was at a stalemate in about June and was taken to management of Liverpool Hospital who agreed to do the treatment for free.
“We have raised about $40,000 for Natalia’s transport in and out of Australia, her interpreters and ensuring the host family isn’t out of pocket.”
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