The doctor who performed Pippie Kruger’s groundbreaking operation felt “very proud” to receive the National Order of the Baobab.
|||Durban - The doctor who made a name for himself for the groundbreaking work on burn patient, Pippie Kruger, felt “very proud” to receive the National Order of the Baobab (silver), he said on Monday.
Dr Ridwan Mia received the Order from President Jacob Zuma on Saturday for his “excellent contribution to the field of medicine and giving hope to victims devastated by burn injuries”.
He was one of 37 recipients who received national orders to mark Freedom Day. The Order of the Baobab represents “exceptional contribution, and is awarded for distinguished service that goes beyond the call of duty”.
“I was very proud and very honoured. It was such a privilege to be part of a group of people who had achieved so much. I felt very humbled,” Mia said.
Mia performed the life-changing skin cloning operation on little Pippie last June - and followed it up on Thursday by carrying out a similar transplant on burn patient, five-year-old Celiwe Maseko of Kagiso, near Krugersdorp, who was burned on her back, stomach and thighs in January after a friend who was playing with matches accidentally set her dress alight. The burns covered 35 percent of her body.
Pippie, now three, of Lephalale (Ellisras) in Limpopo, received 80 percent life-threatening burns when the liquid fire lighter gel that her father, Erwin, was about to use on a New Year’s Eve braai exploded in his hand, severely burning him and covering his daughter in flames.
Both operations were carried out at Netcare Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg.
Pippie’s mother, Anice, turned to the internet to help her daughter and found out about new biotechnology developed in America that enables a patient’s own healthy skin to be cloned and grown in a laboratory to cover their burns.
Two small biopsies were taken from Pippie and sent to America where they multiplied until there was enough for the surgeons back home to use.
Pippie is still undergoing therapy as an outpatient in Johannesburg and could go home in June, her mother said.
Pippie’s mother, who set up a fund for her daughter, donated almost R500 000 to Celiwe, so that she could have the same life-changing opportunity as her own daughter.
Celiwe’s operation was the first in Africa to be performed on a dark-skinned patient.
Only one other similar operation has been carried out in America.
Meanwhile, Celiwe was “doing fine” and everything was going smoothly, Mia said on Monday. “The wounds smell good and look dry. So far, so good,” he said.
Celiwe is still sedated and being fed through a nasal drip. She will be woken up later this week when the doctors will check the wounds and grafts.
Dr Porai Moshesh, Celiwe’s attending paediatric intensivist, said that her vital signs were good and she did not appear to be having any problems with pain.
If the skin transplant has taken, the clips holding the skin in place will be removed, he said.
Celiwe’s parents, Brown and Katlego Maseko, have set up a fund to help finance several more procedures that their daughter will need.
Daily News