Haggai David, a one-year-old baby from Giamu in Upper Nebilyer, Western Highlands Province, has returned home after undergoing life-saving surgery in Sydney, Australia.
On May 13, PNG Bulletin published a story with the headline: “Baby to get life-changing surgery overseas”, she has now returned to PNG after her successful operation in Sydney.
Little miss David, born with a rare birth defect, her journey from a small village in Papua New Guinea to one of Australia’s top children’s hospitals is a proof to the power of hope and humanitarian aid.
David, who turned one year old on June 29, was born with a condition called Frontoethmoidal encephalocele. This neural tube defect occurs when the brain’s nerve tissue does not separate properly from the skin tissue during the fourth week of embryonic development. The only cure is surgery, and without it, Haggai’s future was uncertain.
Her story began at Mt. Hagen Hospital, where she was born.
Dr Benjamin Yapo, a certified medical practitioner, general surgeon, and subspecialist pediatric surgeon, diagnosed her condition immediately.
Dr. Yapo, who is the Head of Surgery at Mt. Hagen Hospital and Deputy Chief of Surgery in the Highlands, has extensive experience, having trained in Alice Springs, Melbourne, Sydney, and Gaza. His expertise and connections were instrumental in seeking the necessary help for David.
