Reconstructive Eye Surgery For Humanitarian Purposes

Eye surgeries are performed all over the world to correct vision and for cosmetic purposes. One reconstructive eye surgery was performed at no charge to a young Russian girl who received shrapnel injury in the September 2004 terrorist take over in Beslan, Russia. Over 300 people were killed in this hostage situation and many more were seriously injured. One of those injured was a ten-year-old girl who lost an eye because of shrapnel that finally came to rest close to her brain. Surgeons at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary completed a two-step procedure to complete an implant procedure for the girl injured in the incident.

Reconstructive eye surgery is a procedure that has been available in the United States for many years. Unfortunately, this procedure is not performed in the girl's homeland of Russia. The New York Infirmary performed the surgical procedure at no cost and travel expenses and the cost of the prosthesis were covered by donations from New York's Russian speaking community. HelpTerrorVictims.org helped with expenses for the young girl and her family.

This is not the first time the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary has helped a victim of terrorism. They have performed surgery on a young boy that was seriously injured in a terrorist attack in Haifa. The Infirmary helps sponsor the organization called Doctors Against Terrorism.

Anya Kadalanova, an ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon operated on the young Russian girl who lost her eye. The first surgery involved placing an implant of biocompatible materials to repair her damaged eye socket. The material was made from coral and donor tissue. The second operation involved placing the prosthesis that had been customized and designed for her eye into the eye socket. Anya was told after her surgery to removed the damaged eye that her sister had been wounded and her mother killed during the hostage emergency. She not only suffered physical injury but also dealt with emotional trauma also. This young girl faced a troubled and uncertain future because of terrorism. Caring and loving people have helped to improve her life and reach out with compassion to victims of terrorism.

Anya was accompanied to New York by her grandmother and was visited by her father and sister during her stay. The wonderful efforts of all people who took part in this humanitarian effort need applause and good wishes. Terrorism affects the whole world and the purpose of Doctors Against Terrorism and HelpTerrorVictims.org is to present a united front in helping victims of these terrible terrorist attacks. Compassion for others is a worldwide trait and this incident proves that many are affected by terrorism and we can help our fellow human beings.

Today, two young children have better lives because of the love and concern of these wonderful doctors, the infirmary, and the many contributors that helped make their specialized surgery a possibility. Anya is recovering and will have a better life because of the generosity of many concerned and loving people.

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