A new future ahead for Rey
November 30, 2009
A young lad from the Philippines will soon be able to face the world again with confidence.
On his arrival in Brisbane Rey Vitalla exhibited extensive bilateral facial clefts, with displacement and deviation of the mid-face portion, and absence of the hard and soft palate, as well as the left eye. Rey had his first operation at Wesley Hospital in Brisbane on 13 October 2009.
Rey as he appeared before his first surgery.
Rey has had the displaced portion of his mid face, including the top jaw (and front teeth), realigned into the correct position. Whilst awaiting definitive reconstruction of his palate, a temporary plastic palate was inserted.
Once healed, he will become accustomed to the feel of having a roof in his mouth, and he can proceed to the second stage of repair. Rey returned temporarily to the Philippines in the care of Dr Gay Ardanas, who assisted with his surgery.
Dr Gay has been able to guide Rey in caring for his mouth since his operation. Rey will return to Brisbane for his next procedure in January 2010 for repair of the palate, lip, cheek and eyelid defects and it is intended that he will have a false eye fitted on the left side.
Fortunately his right eye has perfect function. ROMAC thanks the many wonderful specialists who have been involved with Rey. These include specialists in the fields of maxillo-facial, plastics, ophthalmics, anaesthetics, radiology, dental, psychology, paediatrics, speech pathology, orthodontics and the ever caring and willing nursing and theatre staff.
February 7, 2010
Rey has returned for his next surgery and is resting comfortably in Wesley Intensive Care, after removal of the anaesthetic tube this morning by Dr Bhala Venkatesh. His airway seems fine,and Dr Gay Ardanas was able to minimise his distress by explaining what was happening.
During yesterday's operation his palate was repaired with temple muscle, and his top jaw was reconstructed with bone from the hip, taken by Dr Ian Dickinson. 
Most of the surgical work was done by Dr David Chin, who operated all afternoon and well into the evening to repair his eyelids, cheeks and lip, and his nose also has a new profile (courtesy of more of Dicko's bone graft) -- all ably assisted by Drs Geoff Findlay and Weber Huang who uncomplainingly stood 'at the coalface' for 13 hours; top effort.
Thanks to Simon Myers & Michelle Adamson of LMT/National Surgical Solutions, who donated the skeletal anchors for the soft tissue anchorage and To Libby Colquhoun of Stryker who donated the maxillofacial titanium plate fixation. The biomodel provided by the team at Anatomics was invaluable (again).
Some of the team at work on Rey
Dr Dick Etches led the anaesthetic team, assisted by Drs Steve Tavakol & Angus Mann who put in several hours each. They all had to also monitor & address significant blood loss in a relatively small boy. Dr Mike Rutherford ropped in to assist with relining of the palatal splint. Rey was looked after in ICU overnight by Drs Brucklacher & Venkatesh overnight.
During the operation, theatre sisters Chris Logan & Chris Banditt were excellent, as were all the nursing staff in theatre and on the wards; in fact all staff members at Wesley should take a bow! Likewise each and every Rotarian, particularly those who looked after Rey's mum during a long day yesterday.
February 11, 2009
With assistance from physio Ali Brown and the Wesley physio group, Rey is now up and walking, despite the bone taken from his hip 4 days ago.
The post-op x-rays show where the bone has been placed in top jaw and nose. Thanks to Drs Ted Dauber and Darren Ault and colleagues at Southern Cross Radiology for donating their expertise, yet again.
Similar thanks to Drs Michael Harrison and Graham Adkins and colleagues at Sullivan & Nicolaides, for once more waiving all costs for pathology services, including blood transfusions from Red Cross.
Rey looks better after his latest surgery
