Poor girl's tumor removed

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)