GEORGE NEWS - Little Oyintando Awu from Thembalethu was confident when she reported for her first school day at MM Mateza Primary.
Her life has been changed for the better after surgery in November last year to remove a huge tumour that had deformed her nose.
Up till then, her life had been miserable because she had to face constant teasing when in public.
The surgery, performed at George Hospital by a team of visiting volunteer doctors, was sponsored by the Smile Foundation.
Her mother, Nosiyamtemba, said they are extremely grateful to everyone who made the operation possible. She had been sent from pillar to post for years in her efforts to try to find help for Oyintando, until someone told her about the free corrective surgeries that the Smile Foundation annually sponsors at George Hospital.
Radiation treatments at Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Cape Town were done before the surgery to shrink the tumour by about half. The rest was removed during the operation. The team of surgeons was led by Dr Saleigh Adams from Cape Town.
Related article: Oyitando happily starting grade 1 after tumour removal
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