Sydney gives hope for PNG burns victim
February 18, 2010
Five year old Kenneth Ari is like any other little boy. He likes to colour, read books and play, and he has plenty of energy.
But when Kenneth was just two-years-old, he crawled into a campfire in his small village town of Mount Hagen, in Papua New Guinea.
He was left with severe burns to his face, which became fused to his neck, leaving him with limited mobility in his neck and extensive scarring.
He only had access to basic treatment for his serious injuries, but now, three years later, he will be operated on to separate his lower face from his neck and restore some normality to his life.
Thanks to ROMAC, North Ryde Rotary and Macquarie Park Rotary, Kenneth will be operated on by The Childrens' Hospital at Westmead's head of burns unit, John Harvey, and plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Robert Gates.
Dr Harvey said the operation would probably be done in three parts and that surgeons would also save Kenneth's right eye and restore the use of his right arm which had been badly scarred.
'Kenneth had about 10 per cent of his body surface area burned, and he has difficulty speaking and eating, but we are confident we can restore his functions to him,' Dr Harvey said.
'I think they've done very well in PNG using the resources they had to have him survive'.
Kenneth and his father, Numdi, are staying with Bernard and Helen Chan in Marsfield, while Rotary has organised transport to and from the hospital, clothing and outings around Sydney to take in the sights.
Peter Kaupa, who is training for the priesthood and a resident at the monastery at Holy Spirit Parish, North Ryde, is originally from Papua New Guinea and has been helping with translation.
He said it had been quite an overwhelming time for Mr Ari, flying on a plane for the first time, taking in technology such as televisions and flushing toilets, and adapting to Australian culture.
Most of all, Mr Ari was glad Kenneth, the youngest of his six children, would be getting the treatment he needs.
'I was struggling looking for care in Papua New Guinea, our government does not have plastic surgery', he said. 'Our way of life is very different, and our village is far away from everything.'
North Ryde Rotary president and ROMAC chairman Ron Wilkinson said they were both adjusting well.
'Kenneth is becoming an active little fella, he is a bit cheeky, getting to know people even though he can't speak English.
Numdi has got pretty good English, so he is settling in well and he's very grateful for everything.
Now we are just waiting to hear back from the hospital and are hoping Kenneth will be admitted in the next week or so.'
