Dr Raf Ghabrial has provided an update on Fitiria's treatment, a Nias local and mother who's been living with a debilitating eye tumour for five years.

"Fitiria arrived with her daughter, Febrianis, a delightful and capable 25 year old girl who spoke some English, making her an extremely helpful translator. They were picked up at the airport on 18th May by my wife Barbara, daughter Adele and close family friend/registered nurse, Heather. She was admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on that date. 

She underwent extensive testing and was found to have had massive further growth of the tumour. The scan shows that the eyeball has been completely deformed, thereby not allowing for any potential vision.

Surgery was undertaken two days later on Thursday, assisted by Professor Peter McCluskey, Head and Chair of the University of Sydney Department of Ophthalmology.The procedure went well and a massive benign tumour was removed. At this stage this is the largest such tumour ever reported in the medical literature worldwide.

Fitiria stayed in hospital for five more nights and then stayed nearby in Manly where they enjoyed our cold (24 degree) weather, requiring beanies to be donated. Many of her donors and supporters came to send her off the next Sunday after a swift recovery. She flew out that evening and I have had regular contact with her daughter by text messages. Things seem to be progressing well. 

We had some glass eyes donated by Stryker Surgical and I will endeavour to fit these when next I go North in September. 

The last photo is of Fitiria visiting Dunkin Donuts at Medan airport on my medical advice. 

Many thanks to all the donors that made this happen, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Lions Club Australia. Also thanks to Mr Eddy, a kind father of one of my patients who handed the hat around his golf course in Jakarta to help with airfares. 

Any further funds remaining will go into establishing a clinic in Nias with the help of Mark Flint.

I plan to visit later this year with a Emergency Specialist and a Paediatrician to get things started."