By Lerato Matsaneng
Muriel Msane could not hide her elation when told the tumour on her deformed face would be removed.
On Thursday Msane and her daughter, Nonhlanhla, met Professor Anil Madaree for an examination at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital.
Madaree, a prominent plastic and reconstruction surgeon long associated with Operation Smile, ran scans to determine the nature of the growth.
Msane, 60, of eMbokodweni near Amanzimtoti, was immediately admitted to hospital, where she is due for surgery on Wednesday.
After examining the tumour, Madaree and two colleagues concluded it was possible to remove it.
He said the cause of the tumour and its effects on the patient could only be determined after it had been removed and taken for pathology testing.
Madaree is putting together a team for the five-hour operation. It will consist of two plastic surgeons, a neurosurgeon, an ophthalmologist, an anaesthesiologist, two trainee plastic surgeons and nurses.
Madaree said he suspected the growth was a haematic (blood) cyst. It had destroyed the eye bones and part of the skull, he said. It had pushed the left eye out and up and had covered the right eye and pushed it down. There was also a cataract in her right eye. Msane cannot see with that eye.
Madaree said the surgery would start with opening the skull and exposing the growth.
It would have to be separated from the brain and removed. Doctors will then take bone from the back of her head and reconstruct her nose and eye sockets. She will then be in ICU for two days.
Madaree said due to the nature of the operation, there could be a need for a blood transfusion.
The risks associated with the surgery included blood loss and the possibility of never regaining sight in the right eye.
Three weeks ago the Sunday Tribune ran the story of Msane and how she had been living with the growth for nine years.
She first discovered the lump while working in the vegetable garden behind her house. Thinking it was a mosquito bite, she paid it no attention. But as it began to grow, Msane consulted doctors who told her they didn't know what it was. She was given painkillers and sent on her way.
As the lump grew she consulted more doctors. This time a scan was done, but no diagnosis was made.
The distraught woman was given more painkillers and sent away. That was more than three years ago.
Msane's treatment has been undertaken by Operation Smile South Africa, of which Madaree is the medical director.
Operation Smile began in 1982 and has foundations in more than 30 countries, including South Africa. The non-profit organisation provides free surgery and related health care to children suffering from facial deformities, while simultaneously providing education and training for capacity-building.
It has treated at least 100 000 young beneficiaries.
Operation Smile's World Care Programme, started to assist patients with different, serious problems that could not be treated on Operation Smile's regular cleft lip and palate missions, has operated free on more than 200 patients globally.
Until September, Smile's World Care Programme only had bases in the United States and Australia. South Africa is the third, the first in Africa.
Albert Luthuli Hospital and Madaree's team have come on board and agreed to provide free care to patients in South Africa and across the continent who need this type of surgery.
Educational opportunities for Southern African medical professionals are also incorporated in the Word Care Programme. Msane will be the off-shoot organisation's first patient in South Africa.
"Operation Smile takes responsibility for costs of surgery for World Care patients and for their follow-up care (such as transport and medicine).
"Through Prof Madaree's efforts it has an agreement with the hospital and medical professionals to have the children and adults operated on free," said Operation Smile Southern Africa Director, Natalie Miller.
This year is the 25th anniversary of Operation Smile. It celebrated it with a "World Journey of Smiles" in which 40 medical missions ran simultaneously in 25 countries, providing free surgery to more than 4 000 children.
The Southern African site was in Madagascar, where 24 South African volunteers and others from five other countries operated on 135 with cleft lips and palates.