Cape Town - The East London infant who was flown to Cape Town for the treatment of a vascular tumour, which has disfigured his face, has been discharged from Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
Darren Francis, spokesman for the provincial Department of Health, said six-month-old Awonke Krisjan had returned to his home in Duncan Village after doctors initiated special medical treatment to shrink his tumour.
Hemangioma is a benign tumour of blood vessels, often forming a red birthmark.
On a sponsored trip last week, he flew to Cape Town with his unemployed mother, Zintle Krisjan to have his medical condition assessed by specialists at Red Cross Children's Hospital.
Francis said an MRI was conducted to ascertain if the tumour on his nose was blocking any airways. “Luckily this was not the case. Since he has been admitted the patient has been administered medication to reduce the swelling of the nose. Luckily doctors confirmed that the growth is benign and the swelling of the nose is caused by a hemangioma of the blood vessels,” he said.
Francis said Awonke was due to return to Cape Town in a few months for further assessments and to have more injections and medication administered to reduce the swelling.
Krisjan has praised medical staff, saying not only was Awonke cared for. “but they cared for me too”.
Cape Argus