An Australian surgeon successfully operated on Yahya, a Moroccan boy born without eyes, nose and jaw.
When he was born four years ago, little Yahya was born without eyes or a nose and with a deformed mouth. An extremely rare malformation with disastrous causes: in addition to being blind, the young Moroccan experienced the worst difficulties in breathing and eating. Thanks to a fundraiser on social networks and the mobilization of a compatriot living in Melbourne (Australia), Yahya was finally able to have an operation and at the same time found a normal face.
To alert public opinion to the little boy’s situation, it was the neighbor of the family, the only person around with an internet connection, who lifted the veil on Yahya’s tragic situation. Indeed, to avoid attracting curious and mocking glances, parents used to hide his face when going out in town.
A risky but successful operation
Fatima, a woman of Moroccan origin living in Australia, was touched by this situation and was decisive in the outcome of this story. After several months of research, a local surgeon, Tony Holmes (known to have separated Siamese in Bangladesh), finally agreed to the boy’s operation.
The funds were raised thanks to donations from Internet users, also affected by this operation. The latter consists of the fitting of nose and eye prostheses to restore a “human” shape to Yahya’s face. The intervention lasted more than 18 hours.
Today Yahya is doing much better. Other operations are now planned, especially on the jaw and nose.
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