Four-year-old Joel from Lospalos, Timor-Leste, arrived in Sydney with his father Cireneu at the end of April 2025 for specialist treatment at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead to remove a tumour in his left eye, which was potentially life-threatening if left to grow.
The little boy attended a series of specialist appointments and had an MRI under general anaesthetic. His medical team determined that surgery was necessary to remove the tumour and, sadly, this would mean the removal of Joel’s left eye.
Joel successfully underwent his surgery on 7 May in the expert care of the team at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, including Paediatric Ophthalmologist and Eye Surgeon Dr Michael Jones and Paediatric Oncologist Dr Luciano Dalla-Pozza.
He was fitted with a temporary eye implant to maintain the shape and volume of his eye socket, and spent several days recovering in hospital.
After medical clearance, Joel and Cireneu flew home to Timor-Leste on 15 May and Joel received his permanent eye prosthesis in Dili.
Twelve-year-old Miliana has returned to Vanuatu after a successful operation in Adelaide to correct her painful hip condition.
A brother and sister from Vanuatu have arrived in Canberra for treatment for their club feet, and have been treated to a ROMAC-style birthday party for the eldest, Anis, as he turned 13.
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.
Any donation you can make will help make treatment like this possible.
