A tragic accident in her village in Fiji two years ago left Ria Chand horribly scarred and disfigured.\u00a0 Ria now 3 \u00bd, fell into a pot of boiling soup leaving her face with the appearance of having ‘melted’ downwards onto her chest.<\/p>\n
But thanks to the generous support of Rotary Overseas Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) and skills of plastic surgeon Kirstie MacGill and nurses and therapists at The Royal Children’s Hospital Ria now faces a much happier future.<\/p>\n
Ria arrived in Australia last July for plastic surgery to repair the damage to her face and chest.\u00a0 Dr MacGill has performed a number of surgical procedures which have remarkably given Ria a new appearance and future.\u00a0 Her surgery included use of artificial skin, cell cultures and new dressings that have been found to be very helpful in the treatment of burnt children.<\/p>\n
After a year receiving treatment in Australia Ria will return home to her family next week.<\/p>\n
Both the RCH and ROMAC – a program of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand – are exceptionally happy with the new quality of life that Ria will have thanks to the dedicated efforts of the surgeons, hospital staff and volunteer Rotarians who make a fantastic team that offers dignity to ‘ The Forgotten Children of the World ‘.<\/p>\n
Media is invited to meet Ria and her mother Kiran at the hospital tomorrow before she leaves for home.<\/p>\n