DUBAI // At 18, Ghadeer Al Titi was facing womanhood with more than the usual confidence issues felt by many teenagers after being left with severe physical scarring caused by burns as a toddler.
Basic skin grafts were completed on the Palestinian refugee following an accident at home, when she suffered third-degree burns from hot oil at age three.
As a resident of Al Aroub Refugee Camp in Hebron, the teenager was left with little chance of corrective surgery to improve her appearance and self confidence. With no adequate treatment available locally, her family reached out to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) for help.
The fund has a partnership with the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital (AACSH) in Dubai Healthcare City. Thanks to surgeons Dr Carole Azzam and chief medical officer Dr Matteo Vigo, Ghadeer can now face adult life with rejuvenated vigour.
The fund is administered by a non-political, non-profit organisation dedicated to healing the wounds of war, occupation and poverty of children in the Middle East.
“Ghadeer was burnt in the chest, stomach and arms,” Dr Vigo said.
“She was given a skin graft immediately in Palestine but, unfortunately, this kind of surgery always ends up with bad scarring.
“As a child it was not a problem for her but as she has grown through her teenage years, it is something she has been thinking about.”
Her scar extended along her upper abdomen, chest area and upper left arm.
Two operations later – the first completed in September and another this month – Ghadeer’s life was changed.
A tissue-insertion procedure was performed in the abdominal area, expanding the existing skin to cover old scarring.
It is a common procedure used in cosmetic surgery to rectify skin defects, burns or scarring from post-cancer treatment.
Recovery is quick from the first step of the operation as it is just a small incision. Within four days, Ghadeer could live normally.
Weekly check-ups in Dubai followed before a second procedure removed the skin expander. Her recovery was slightly longer from the second operation at about two weeks.
“I was very happy when the PCRF wanted to help me and stand by my side to take on my case,” Ghadeer said.
“Dr Vigo treated more than 60 per cent of the scars on my body.
“I’m so thankful to the AACS Hospital for all the care they have shown me during my treatment.
“Dr Vigo was patient with me throughout the process. He has changed my life completely for the better.”
The Italian surgeon said that reducing the dimension of the scar had made a huge change for Ghadeer.
“We do not charge anything. It is a way to keep having new patients coming here so we can help them live as normal a life as possible.”
During her stay in Dubai, Ghadeer stayed with a host family for three months, while Etihad Airways took care of her flights.
The PCRF also runs hundreds of volunteer missions from all over the world to Palestine and Lebanon’s camps, providing children with free care and local medical personnel with training.
Medical care is arranged for sick and injured children from the Middle East who cannot be adequately treated in their homeland.
The charity also sponsors humanitarian projects in Palestine and Lebanon to provide relief for poor and needy children.
This includes the provision of wheelchairs, summer camps and a child sponsorship programme.
Additional minor treatments for Ghadeer are planned for next year.
To donate to the fund and help other young people, visit www.pcrf.net.
nwebster@thenational.ae