Liyana, a bright-eyed girl from Khayelitsha, is about to receive a gift that will change her life forever. Thanks to the Smile Foundation and the expertise of renowned surgeons, Liyana will undergo a life-changing surgery.
Cape Town, South Africa (01 November 2024) – It’s Smile Week at Tygerberg Hospital and one precious little girl born with a congenital condition is set to receive a life-changing corrective surgery.
Born with a condition that caused her eyes to be unusually far apart, seven-year-old Liyana from Khayelitsha will this week gain newfound confidence as renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Frank Graewe performs delicate surgery to shift her eyes closer.
According to the Smile Foundation, this procedure will involve an intracranial approach to dissect and release both eye sockets from soft tissue and bone, followed by removing structures between the eyes to create space, allowing them to be brought closer together.
The medical team will also attempt to reconstruct Liyana’s nasal area as much as possible at this stage.
As part of Smile Week, seven other young lives will also be remarkably transformed in partnership with Smile Foundation and BigShoe®️.
Dr Frank Graewe, as well as a highly esteemed Paediatric Plastic Surgeon, Professor Robert Mann, will use their expertise to restore hope in these special patients.
Both surgeons will be invaluable in facilitating skills sharing with South Africa’s local surgeons during this initiative.
Their vast knowledge and specialised skills will be shared with the hospital’s surgical team and registrars, enriching the initiative with their profound contributions.
“We would also like to express our sincere appreciation for the remarkable surgeons, medical professionals, and hospital staff at Tygerberg Hospital who are selflessly dedicating their time and expertise to give these children the critical surgery they need,” says Tarri Parfitt, CEO of Smile Foundation.
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