Professor Hong Sung-Tae (57) of SNU College of Medicine is the Chairman of the Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine. Professor Hong made arrangements for an operation for Mohammed Abakir (10), a Sudanese child who was suffering from a congenital deformity. SNU Hospital said that the surgery would heal the 'Frontonasal Encephalocele' that made Mohammed Abakir's brain bulge out below his forehead on the nose.
The 11-hour operation took place on July 5 at the Children's Hospital of SNU Hospital (SNUH), Seoul. SNU College of Medicine professors Wang Kyu Chang (Department of Neurosurgery) and Kim Suk Hwa (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) operated him. Professor Wang said,"The bones near the nose and the brain weren't completely formed when Mohammed was born. That is why the brain is bulging out. The surgery returns his brain back in and transplant the bones in place so that his brain won't bulge out anymore." After Prof. Wang,s surgery, Prof. Kim reconstrcuted his nose by repairing the nasal bone and surrounding soft tissue.
The lump, where the nose was supposed to be, blocked Mohammed's sight, making it difficult for him to read. Also he wasn't attending school because the other children mocked him. Luckily, Mohammed appears to have normal intelligence. He can now live a normal life after having had the surgery.
It was mainly Professor Hong's effort that made it possible for Mohammed to receive the operation here in Korea. Professor Hong visited Sudan in December of last year to work on a project to eradicate schistosomiasis (small blood flukes in the blood vessel of the intestinal or urinary bladder) which is heavy endemic along the River Nile. On this visit, Professor Hong met Mohammed at his home village. After return to Seoul, Prof. Hong discussed his affair with Prof. Wang, Prof. Kim, and Public Medical Support Team of the SNUH. He invited many voluntary sopnsors for expenses of the air travel, admission and surgery in SNUH, and staying in Seoul after surgery. Meanwhile Prof. Hong let Mohammed Abakir prepare his travel to Seoul. After finishing the preparation, Professor Hong left Korea on June 18 and came back with Mohammed on June 27. Mohammed stayed in Seoul, Korea for 47 days.
Professor Hong said,"The disfigurement was so severe that, at first, I was llost for words and just took pictures. After coming back to Korea, I consulted the doctors in the Department of Neurosurgery and got the answer that full recovery was possible. That's when I started to plan an operation for Mohammed." Professor Hong's admirable conduct was fueled by his hope that the surgery could give Mohammed a chance to start a new life. Professor Hong commented,"Thanks to the many people who voluntarily participated in the humanitarian act, the surgery went well. Mohammed is currently stable and resting.”
About 20 supporters and organizations donated 35,000,000 won to cover the cost of the surgery, the guardian's visiting expenses, and the air plane tickets. The supporting organizations were mainly the Supporters' Association of SNU Children's Hospital, the staff of the Korean Embassy in Sudan, MFC in SNU College of Medicine, GMC in Sudan and the Korean Association of Health Promotion.
Professor Hong said, “The staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collected money by using Facebook." He also expressed his feelings by saying,"As the person who initiated the operation, I'm touched that we didn't have to worry about the money needed to heal Mohammed."
He also expressed his concern for the residents of White Nile State in Southern Sudan. The residents’ source of water is the River Nile. Schistosomiasis is transmitted in theRiver Nile by larvae which penetrate the skin. He stressed that overall pandemic control and water purification is needed to improve the quality of life in Sudan.
Professor Hong is planning to teach students and encourage them to develop their better life. The project to save thousands of lives in Sudan must go on.
Written by JANG Hyo Jeong, SNU English Editor, fatalbonds@snu.ac.kr ?
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies, eps7257@snu.ac.kr
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor, morningcalm2@gmail.com
Proofread by HONG Sung-Tae, SNU Professor of Medicine, hst@snu.ac.kr