GUNTUR: A few weeks back, seven-year-old Vallabhu Ganesh accompanied by his parents walked into the NRI General Hospital at Chinakakani with a big nose and heavy mass of brain matter dangling from the skull. He was suffering from a rare congenital deformity, Fronto Ethamoidal Meningo Encephalcole with Hypertelorism. The deformity impaired his vision, affected him psychologically and left little choice for his parents from Hyderabad.

On the morning of April 30, a team of doctors, including renowned cosmetic surgeon from Canada Sanjeev Kalia aided by neuro surgeon Dr. Rajesh began to perform one of the most complicated cosmetic surgeries. The surgery took a gruelling 11 hours. The doctors successfully removed the huge brain mass and extricated it from the skull, fixed the nose using a skull bone, created eye orbits and put a nasal bridge, pulling off a miraculous act. After three weeks of post-operative care, a shy and smiling Ganesh on Tuesday walked out to lead a normal life.

Presenting the boy along his parents, V. Krishna, who is a milk vendor and his wife, Jayamma, at a media conference, NRI Academy of Medical Sciences K. Anji Reddy termed it as the proudest moment in the short history of NRI GH. He thanked all the doctors involved in the surgery for performing a massive surgical procedure.

No discomfort

He also complimented the boy for displaying rare mental strength and physical endurance in coping up with a massive surgery. He added that the boy had not shown any signs of physical discomfort and responded very well during the post-operative treatment. The boy would be given corrective glasses and would have to undergo another surgery to restore the tear duct below the left eye.

In a noble gesture, the staff and students of the academy donated a cheque of Rs.44, 000 to the parents of boy. The cheque was handed over by academy administrator Y. Rajeswara Rao, superintendent Buchhi Babu and Nagi Reddy. Some of the staff gave a pair of new clothes to the boy.

"The doctors here have provided to a new lease of life to my child.

I had never expected that he would become normal again. Now, he will be able to play with other boys, go to school regularly," Jayamma, mother of Ganesh told reporters.

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