Child’s overgrown lip surgery beyond the means of parents
Since doctors in Zimbabwe cut off the external part of the tongue, his lower lip started to grow indefinitely.
A one-year-old boy in Tembisa is in desperate need of help to cover the medical costs associated with a rare condition he has.
Prosper Mathe was born with an overgrown lower tongue, which hangs out of his mouth.
Since doctors in Zimbabwe cut off the external part of the tongue, his lower lip started to grow indefinitely.
According to his mother, Ms Moditor Shoko, the doctors in Zimbabwe suspect the condition to be haemangioma.
According to online sources, haemangioma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour of the cells, called endothelial cells, which normally line the blood vessels.
In haemangiomas, the endothelial cells multiply at an abnormally rapid rate. This collection of small blood vessels then forms a lump in or under the skin.
“The doctors in Zimbabwe had to operate on him and they cut off the external part of the tongue. They tried to treat him for haemangioma but his lower lip started to grow indefinitely,” said his father, Mr Gilfred Mathe.
Mr Mathe said he took Prosper to the Tembisa Hospital. Prosper was not diagnosed but but was transferred to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
He said they were told at both hospitals that if they did not have South African documentation the cost of the operation on their son will not be less than R30 000.
A group of doctors attended Prosper and agreed that the operation would be costly.
“A second group of doctors scanned my son and told us they were going to cut out a piece of his lip for laboratory examination, which they didn’t do for reasons unknown to us,” said Mr Mathe.
He said they were told go back home and wait for a call from the hospital, which they have not received yet.
“We only have a card from the Steve Biko Hospital. It has no doctors’ details. About eight doctors would attend to the child at a time,” said Mr Mathe.
The father, who makes a living out of menial supermarket jobs, said a private doctor in Sandton quoted over R300 000 for an operation and treatment of his child.
“The doctor promised to talk to his colleagues and get back to us with a possible solution. We never heard from him again,” said Mr Mathe.
“All we want is for our son to get help,” said Mr Mathe.
Anyone who can provide assistance, can contact Tembisan journalist Jantji Ngwenyama, who will put those wishing to provide assistance in contact with the family. Contact Jantji on 011 970-3030 or 0839679222 or email jantjin@caxton.co.za
