Little Haggai was born healthy but with a massive facial disfigurement called a neural tube defect. She was referred to ROMAC by Dr Benjamin Yapo at Mt Hagen in the highlands of New Guinea.
Haggai arrived in Australia in June 2024 in the arms of her anxious and overwhelmed mother Malina, and accompanied by Nurse Joyce.
At Westmead Children's Hospital, Plastic Surgeon Dr Damian Marucci and Neurosurgeon Dr Gemma Olsson operated on Haggai for many hours to remove the defect.
In July, Haggai returned home with her mother, where she continued to heal. Today, she is a normal looking little girl with a great future ahead of her. That is the magic of ROMAC.
Watch Haggai's moving story.
Tom is still receiving treatment for his club feet and is recovering well after surgery. While the journey is ongoing his strength and determination are evident every day.
Haggai came into ROMAC’s care after being born with a rare facial condition that significantly affected her appearance and required urgent specialist surgery in Australia.
A six-week-old baby born with blocked airways was flown from Fiji with her mother and two doctors to receive specialist care with support from ROMAC in Adelaide.
Any donation you can make will help make treatment like this possible.
