Poor girl's tumor removed

JAKARTA (JP): A team of 12 doctors removed a tumor, which was almost as big as her head, from the back of the head of a 13-year-old girl in a six-hour operation.

Lasmi, who traveled from her home in North Lampung earlier this week, is now healing in the intensive care unit of the Pondok Indah Hospital in South Jakarta, where the operation was conducted.

Before and after the operation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., her parents, Sakimo and Ngadikem, and other relatives took turns watching over her 24 hours a day, a hospital employee said.

The medical team headed by Zahruddin Baharsyah, also did plastic surgery to close the gaping wound left by the removal of the massive tumor.

The operation for the girl from Daya Murni village in the Tulangbawang Udik district, was held in conjunction with the hospital's 10th anniversary, Siswanto, the hospital's medical director said.

The operation was free because Lasmi is from a poor family, he said.

The operation was made possible with the cooperation of the Lampung health offices, the Abdul Muluk Hospital in Bandar Lampung and the Jakarta-based neurosurgeon Padmosantjojo. (anr)