Perth plastic surgeon, Dr Tim Cooper, and his colleagues, Dr Mark Duncan-Smith (burns specialist) and Dr Simon Zidar (anaesthetist), together with the fantastic support and cooperation of staff and management of The Mount Hospital, Perth, undertook another mammoth surgical session to help 27-year-old Heldi from West Timor who has been living in agony and distress for 12 years since burning her lower face and chest in a house fire. Heldi spent two months in Perth undergoing her operation and post-operative recovery before returning to Bali in December.
We would like to express our thanks to the medical personnel and hospital involved, and also to Aimee Cairns who accommodated and very capably looked after Heldi and Holdin, her accompanying carer, during their Perth stay. Thanks also to the Kolewa Foundation in Bali, which found Heldi in the first place, brought her to Bali, accommodated her prior to her travel to Perth, and is supporting her now with education to provide her with much-needed skills so she can work.