This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/6746819.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Burns girl grows new head of hair | Burns girl grows new head of hair |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A five-year-old girl has been given a new "piggyback" head to help her replace skin and hair she lost in an horrific burns accident as a toddler. | |
Sidra Afzal, from Fleur-de-Lys, near Caerphilly, is being treated by doctors at Morriston Hospital, Swansea. | |
They implanted a special balloon under her scalp 10 months ago which has steadily grown with new skin and hair. | They implanted a special balloon under her scalp 10 months ago which has steadily grown with new skin and hair. |
Now they plan to remove the gel-filled balloon and pull the new skin and hair follicles over Sidra's burnt head. | Now they plan to remove the gel-filled balloon and pull the new skin and hair follicles over Sidra's burnt head. |
Sidra was two when she suffered 25% burns from cooking oil in an accident at her home, leaving her bald on one side of her head. | Sidra was two when she suffered 25% burns from cooking oil in an accident at her home, leaving her bald on one side of her head. |
Doctors grafted skin from her thighs onto burns on her back and arm to lessen the scarring but her scalp remained red and swollen - and her hair did not grow back. | Doctors grafted skin from her thighs onto burns on her back and arm to lessen the scarring but her scalp remained red and swollen - and her hair did not grow back. |
It looks scary but it is virtually painless Sidra's father Mohammed | It looks scary but it is virtually painless Sidra's father Mohammed |
Her mother Saba, 38, said: "She was left self-conscious about her bald patch. | |
"All little girls fuss about their hair and she is no different. | "All little girls fuss about their hair and she is no different. |
"She always wears a hat when we go out and she kept asking me when she would get her hair back." | "She always wears a hat when we go out and she kept asking me when she would get her hair back." |
Surgeons at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Morriston are carrying out the tissue expansion procedure. | Surgeons at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Morriston are carrying out the tissue expansion procedure. |
A 90-minute operation will be carried out this week and, if it is a success, Sidra will be able to return to school in September after spending a year having tutoring at home since the balloon was implanted. | A 90-minute operation will be carried out this week and, if it is a success, Sidra will be able to return to school in September after spending a year having tutoring at home since the balloon was implanted. |
The balloon has been filled with a special gel at the rate of six teaspoons full each week - with the healthy skin and hair stretching around it. | The balloon has been filled with a special gel at the rate of six teaspoons full each week - with the healthy skin and hair stretching around it. |
Doctors at Morriston's burns centre are caring for the little girl | Doctors at Morriston's burns centre are caring for the little girl |
It now contains more than a litre of liquid and is the same size as her head. | It now contains more than a litre of liquid and is the same size as her head. |
Dr Bill Dickson, the burns centre's director, said Sidra was a "delightful little child to look after". | Dr Bill Dickson, the burns centre's director, said Sidra was a "delightful little child to look after". |
"It is a rare procedure but we are very hopeful her new scalp will grow with her because it is her skin. | "It is a rare procedure but we are very hopeful her new scalp will grow with her because it is her skin. |
"The injections and the expanding balloon can be quite uncomfortable. But Sidra has coped really well." | "The injections and the expanding balloon can be quite uncomfortable. But Sidra has coped really well." |
Double-take | |
Her mother Saba said; "Sidra is so brave. Before the first operation, her doctor explained what would happen and asked if she wanted to go ahead. | Her mother Saba said; "Sidra is so brave. Before the first operation, her doctor explained what would happen and asked if she wanted to go ahead. |
"She answered: 'As long as I can look nice, I don't mind the pain." | "She answered: 'As long as I can look nice, I don't mind the pain." |
Sidra's father, shopkeeper Mohammed, 46, said they had to watch her "like a hawk" to make sure she does not bang her head. | Sidra's father, shopkeeper Mohammed, 46, said they had to watch her "like a hawk" to make sure she does not bang her head. |
"It looks scary but it is virtually painless. She does feel the balloon move and wobble from time to time though. | "It looks scary but it is virtually painless. She does feel the balloon move and wobble from time to time though. |
"People do a double-take and some stop to ask why her head is like this. It's only natural that they are curious. | |
"But Sidra always has a smile on her face and is very proud of her thick hair growing over the top of the balloon," he added. | "But Sidra always has a smile on her face and is very proud of her thick hair growing over the top of the balloon," he added. |