Lilitha Gazi nearly lost the use of her right hand when it was crushed in an accident. But thanks to the quick intervention of the plastic surgery department at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital the five-year-old should have almost complete mobility in the injured hand within a year.
Lilitha's mom, Vuyiseka Gazi, said the preschooler was playing in the back yard of her grandmother's house in Gugulethu on December 17 when a relative's car rolled over her hand.
"She came into the house holding her hand against her body. She was crying and her hand looked so bad. I was very scared," Mrs Gazi said.
The family rushed Lilitha to Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and surgeons worked throughout the night to reconstruct her hand.
Plastic surgeon Nick Kairinos discharged Lilitha on December 24 so that she could spend Christmas with her family. Multiple surgeries were performed on her hand during her week-long stay in hospital and Dr Kairinos said it was likely that Lilitha would regain near full mobility in the injured hand.
Mrs Gazi said Lilitha has already been able to move several of her fingers.
Lilitha Gazi sits with her mom Vuyiseka at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital
Lauren O'Connor-May
Principal Communications Officer
Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital
Tel: 021 658 5448
Cell: 084 586 1413
Fax: 021 658 5333
Email: rxhpro@pgwc.gov.za