"I’m not going to be ugly any more," said six-year-old, Maria Dejesus Serratos.
It is an amazing story of before and after plastic surgery. With the help of plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Freedland of Bloomfield Hills and other Beaumont medical staffers, they were able to make a positive change in little girl’s life forever.
Maria lives just outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. Like most other six-year-olds, she enjoys playing and riding her bike except for one thing, a severe facial disfigurement. Large lumps on either side of her nose, which caused her eyes to spread apart, was the focus of stares and taunting from other neighborhood children.
Extra brain tissue from the frontal lobe had grown through her skull and into her nasal cavity limiting Maria’s ability to see around the growth.
A Southfield attorney learned of Maria’s challenge from a client and decided to call a friend in Beaumont’s plastic surgery department. The case was presented to Dr. Freedland. He immediately knew the diagnosis. “Because of my past experience with birth defects, I diagnosed Maria as having an encephalocele.”
He consulted with Dr. Karol Zakalik, a pediatric neurosurgeon, and they formulated a plan. The neurosurgeon would remove the excess brain tissue and Dr. Freedland would repair the eye sockets and the nose. With the help of Beaumont administrators, the doctors were given a room, equipment, and other items free of charge.
Maria’s condition was successfully completed after a long dangerous surgery that lasted more than 10 hours. More operations may be needed but the initial results were tremendously positive.
“There are still good people in this world,” said Maria’s mother, Luzeles Dejesus Serratos. “Without them we never would be able to help Maria.”
“Helping people like Maria is the reason why I chose this field,” said Dr. Freedland. “To hear her say ‘thank you’ and hug me makes it the best decision I’ve ever made. Finally people will see the beauty she possesses inside as well as out.”
Before: (click to view full sized photo)
After:
