Oyintando happily starting Grade 1 after tumour removal

GEORGE NEWS - Young Oyintando Awu from Thembalethu will be happily reporting for Grade 1 next week after surgery sponsored by the Smile Foundation dramatically changed her appearance.

For most of her life, Oyintando has had a large benign tumour on the tip of her nose, eventually causing a condition that is also referred to as "clown nose". For several years she suffered under relentless teasing and was shy to appear in public.

But since a team of volunteer doctors operated on her during the Smile Foundation's Smile Week at George Hospital in November, she is a very happy child, says her mother, Nosiyamtemba.

"She is so grateful to all the doctors who made such a big change in her life. I am very happy for my daughter because she suffered for six years. It was not easy for me as a mom. I want to say thank you so much to all the doctors for the operation. I also thank God who gave the doctors the wisdom to make sure that my daughter can be her pretty self."

Mrs Awu has had an extremely frustrating journey in trying to obtain the appropriate medical help for her daughter. She was sent from pillar to post for several years while the tumour on Oyintando's nose continued to grow bigger. She experienced great relief when someone informed her of the corrective surgeries done during Smile Week.

Oyintando first went to the Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Cape Town where radiation treatments were used to shrink the tumour by about half. The rest was removed during the operation.

The operating team was led by Dr Saleigh Adams from Cape Town, who has been coming to George annually as a volunteer since 2014 to perform surgery on children with facial deformities.

The Smile Foundation's activities are funded through donations and fundraisers. Visit their website, www.smilefoundationsa.org, for more information or to donate.

Oyintando Awu readied for the operation. Before the operation, the tumour on her nose was shrunk by about half through radiation treatments.