Extraordinary People: The Girl with a New Face - Monday October 15
10 Oct five's blog | Email this page | 13416 reads
extraordinary people: the girl with a new face
21.00–22.00
Five’s acclaimed documentary strand comes to the end of another batch of absorbing programmes exploring remarkable stories of human experience. Tonight’s programme follows the incredible story of Marlie Casseus, a Haitian teenager who required pioneering surgery to remove a seven-kilo growth from her face.
In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 13-year-old Marlie is dying. Because of a rare genetic condition known as fibrous dysplasia, Marlie’s bones are transforming into a huge growth, or lesion, that distorts her face, stretches her skin, crushes her windpipe and forces her eyes apart. “People here say that this is a curse, not a normal disease,” says Marlie’s mother, Maleine. “They say it is voodoo stuff.”
With time running out for their daughter, Marlie’s family contacted two US-based Haitian nurses, sisters Gina and Ginette Eugene, who called on an American charity for help. The International Kids Fund immediately arranged for Marlie to be airlifted to a Miami hospital, two hours away, where the world’s media was waiting for a press conference addressed by one of the few specialists who could save Marlie: Venezuelan-born maxillofacial surgeon Dr Jesús Gómez.
Marlie’s case of fibrous dysplasia is the most extreme in medical history: her seven-kilo lesion weighs more than her head and she has to support it with her hands. She is also in constant pain and in danger of going blind. Dr Gómez’s only hope of saving his young patient’s life is to remove the whole lesion in a pioneering, but lifethreatening operation, and insert synthetic bones. “Nobody has attempted to do a surgery that is this big in a patient this young,” Dr Gómez explains. The operation is costing $95,000 – money raised by the International Kids Fund.
At 7.30am on the day of the operation, the surgeons and family know that this will be the turning point in Marlie’s life. Dr Gómez is aware that the procedure could either change or end Marlie’s life – there are great risks from bleeding and infection. As the operation gets underway, Dr Gómez and the team remove huge parts of the mid-section of Marlie’s face and, incredibly, manage to reconstruct her nose. At the end of the 17-hour procedure, Marlie has 2,500 stitches in her face – but she can now hold her head up, and wants to see herself in a mirror for the first time in five years.
Six weeks later, Marlie is free from pain for the first time in years, and can even smile. Dr Gómez is confident that she will eventually look “pretty close to normal”, because he knows she will put in the necessary effort. “We gave her a new chance,” he says proudly. “We gave her hope.” However, Marlie’s ordeal is by no means over. She must now endure another operation to remove the lower part of the lesion and replace it with an artificial, titanium jaw. After the diseased parts are cut away, carefully avoiding damaging the delicate nerves of the mouth and tongue, the new jaw is screwed into place.
After a few weeks’ healing, Marlie is looking forward to being reunited with her father and sisters, who are coming over from Haiti to see her. “I lost Marlie, but now I have her back,” says her father, Michel. “Marlie was dying, but now she is dancing.” The family return to Haiti, where Marlie recieves VIP treatment from the community that had previously shunned her.
One year later, Marlie can pass unnoticed in a crowd. She still faces more reconstructive surgery, as well as physio and speech therapy, but her face has healed, she has gained weight and, after another operation, she can speak again. “Since everyone is so kind to me now, and my face looks nice,” she says, “I no longer feel like I want to die. Now I can have hope.”
We who are blessed to live in countries like the UK, USA and Canada take things in life for granted. When we see this kind of issues being brought to public attention, may we all remember that every breath of life is by the grace of God. May we all thank the Lord our God for the blessings he bestows on us, and may we continue to pray for those all around us, and especially special kids such as Marlie.
4 Aug 08 at 6:11 am
I saw Marlie's story last night and it brought tears to my eyes, I hope all is going well for her and I wish her the very best for the future.
1 Aug 08 at 9:19 am
omggggggggggggggggg i feeeeel so hurt for this lil angel she is so brave and im happy for her loadzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and i wish her the very best in her future i knoe for a fact i wudnt b as brave as her buh she gives hop eto everyone in da world and i praise her deeplyyyy
tc yeh and i luv u
xxxx
30 May 08 at 7:09 pm
she should make us feel really lucky for being 'normal'! I think she is reallly brave and my hero
14 Apr 08 at 8:59 pm
It broke my family hearts to witness this little girl go through so much pain, and uncomfort emotionally and physically, but it was beautiful to see the support from her friends and family.She is a brave strong, lovely girl. the transformation of her surgery was amazing. please keep me up to date on how she is doing now via email.
My family and I wish her all the best and hope her dreams are fulfilled!xxxx
6 Mar 08 at 12:55 am
please contact with me about Marlie condition......at the present time.....i 'll always pray for her....i am in tears..and i can't say..more...i fell so sorry for her....GOOD BLESS YOU PRINCESS........XXXX
27 Nov 07 at 1:04 am
I watched this program when i was in work and seeing what this poor girl has gone through moved me deeply.To have gone through the pain and still come out full of joy and love,this girl is truly amazing,to see her dancing and giving her family the loving hugs this wonderful girl will always have a place in my heart.I wish Marlie all the very best in her future.x x x
18 Oct 07 at 1:40 pm
I was very upset for her, how could a child with good sense of humour cheerfull vibrant preety, full of live go through this........... God is able to do exeedingly abandatly, many people do not believe in miracles but this is a true miracle, its a testimony that Marlie for ever, l wish her the best and l would really like to know how l can meet her and invite her to England for holiday if possible. please keep me informed,about how to be intouch with her. She is my inspiration.......I DONT KNOW YOU MARLIE BUT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING STRONG AND POSITIVE. XX
17 Oct 07 at 8:24 pm
Would it be possible to meet this little Angel???????????????? I do hope so, even if it means traveling to Haiti I am prepared to so. I need to know how I can get in touch with this family.
17 Oct 07 at 1:01 am
This is amazing, God works in a mysterious way, I am proud of this little girl, Marlie's story makes me realised the little things that worries me as an adult is absolutely rubbish. Sweetie God is working through you to show the people of Haiti that he is still at the control. Maleine, continue to be faithful to word of God, God is working through Dr Gomez, your daughter's breakthrough is well on it's way. I wish Marlie all the best throughout the surgeries, I will be praying for you.
17 Oct 07 at 12:50 am
marlie is truly an amazing young girl to go through all the pain and trauma of her condition and still remain so strong i wish i was half as strong as her. i have watched many similar programs in the past but must admit marlie's story really touched me i was in tears watching what that girl had to go through. PLEASE could you keep us updated on marlie's progress. may god be with her and grant her everything she wishes. x x x
16 Oct 07 at 10:06 pm
i was really moved when i saw this young pretty girl almost destroyed by the greedy hands of death. she was brave in her condition and the bravest in the world i would say because she didn't even give after her ordeal; i really pray to GOD that she undergoes other operations successfully and become the preety girl she used to be and is. i would say her case was really touching,heart-wrenching and lachrymal.
16 Oct 07 at 2:59 pm
From watching the documentary on Marlie's condition we really felt for what she was going through at such a young age.
We hope that she will have every success in life and hope that reconstructive sugery will improve her facial features.
All the best xxxx
16 Oct 07 at 1:24 pm
Marlie is such a brave young girl with a bright future ahead of her, we wish her all the best with fourth coming sugery and hope that she reaches all her dreams in life.
Love Kirsty and Oonagh
16 Oct 07 at 1:18 pm
Marlie's is a strong young lady. As young as she is she still kept her head up during and after her surgery. I am truely intriged and would like to know what happened next and if the DOCTOR was about to remove her diseased bones and if reconstructive surgrey made a look "normal" enough for her to continue her bright life as a prosporous woman. Please keep me informed.
16 Oct 07 at 12:03 pm
I was moved to tears by Marlie's story. My first question was why do they leave it so late to find help, yes I know its difficult for these people, but at the end of the day its your childs life that is at stake. I would like to follow her journey to its end, to see what she will look like after reconstructive surgery etc. Will the condition come back with the same consequences? I hope to god that it doesn't this poor girl has been through more than most people go through in a life time in just a few years. I also felt for her when she was brought home and paraded in front of the people who shunned her previously, that must have been so hard on Marlie, her emotions would have been all over the place. I felt the last thing she needed was to be shoved out to meet those who had hurt her in the past.
I hope she goes from strength to strength her courage is an inspiration to us all.
16 Oct 07 at 10:36 am
I was really moved watching Marlie's story tonight. She really is an amazing human being. Going through what she has and still managing to smile and dance. I would also really like to know how her reconstructive surgery is going.
15 Oct 07 at 11:33 pm
Marlie journey from contracting such a rear disease and keeping her faith at a young age should make us all feel proud. She has a fantastic family that has always loved her and it was them that made her journey that little bit easier. We must not forget the doctor (Dr) Jesús Gómez who performed the operation and the charities that supported her with the finance to allow her to get the treatment she so badly needed. When I see a story like Marlie's it make me feel proud of who I am and what I have. I wish Marlie all the best and may all her dreams come true.
15 Oct 07 at 10:41 pm
I would really like to know how the situation is evolving for Marlie, if the reconstructive surgery is going well, ans if her main state of health increase with time.
Please, could you keep us informed of the futur of her condition on your web site ?
15 Oct 07 at 10:05 pm
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