Luckiest Kid Alive

4 November 2008

3.3 Kilogram Tumour removed from 14 month old baby.

Alex Gonjala, a 14month old baby from East Timor arrived at Wellington Children's Hospital on 18th October to have a 3.3kilogram benign tumour removed from his wee stomach. On Sunday 26th October Pediatric Surgeon Specialist, Dr Brendon Bowkett and his team of theatre specialists volunteered their morning to remove the tumour. The operation was a success and Alex and his mother Eliza are leaving for home on 8th November 2008.

It was Rotary International who raised funds for Alex to come to New Zealand and the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson who sponsored Alex and his mother. Many other organisations played a major role including the Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation, in particular Foundation Hospital Volunteer Manager Trish Lee.

This has been a wonderful story and Alex is definitely "The luckiest Kid Alive"