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An 11-year-old girl has undergone an incredible transformation with thanks to surgeons in Melbourne.

Zoe Allen was born with part of her face missing and surgeons at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne have carefully hand crafted a complete one just for her.  This brave 11-year-old now has dreams of becoming a doctor to help others like her.

“They pulled the tendon out of my wrist and made it into an eyelid,” Zoe said in a recent interview with Channel 7 news.

Zoe 1
Image source: Seven News

 

Zoe was missing part of her face when she was born after developing severe clefting while in the womb.  After seven major operations, the bone, muscle and skin have all been completely restructured.

zoe 3
Image source: Seven News

 

“We walked through the recovery area at the theatres, and we walked straight past Zoe. We didn’t recognise her!” Zoe’s dad Neil Allen said, while trying to fight back tears.  

Jodie Allen, Zoe’s mum told Channel Seven, “Zoe’s biggest thing with this operation was getting her bottom eyelid. As she said to me when she was able to see, first thing she said was I look like you now mum.”

zoe 2
Image source: Seven News

 

Unfortunately, Zoe’s time at the Royal Children’s Hospital will be ongoing.  Surgeons expect will need to keep operating on her face until she stops growing at around 18 years old.

zoe 4
Image source: Seven News

 

Zoe’s courage and bravery has encouraged her sister, Britney, to be inspired to help the hospital that has helped Zoe.  Britney is planning to run 200km in April to raise $200,000 for the hospital.

Image source: Seven News

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  • how wonderful..wishing this beautiful girl all the best for her future operations and recoveries

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  • Wishing her all the best.

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  • How difficult for the whole family – although wonderful too.

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  • What a brave little girl zoe is. I wish her all the best with her many future operations whilst she grows. And well done to her sister for her fundraising endeavors

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  • This is just incredible. It amazes me what surgeons can do these days!

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  • Such a brave young girl. Would be very scary to have so many operations coming, but it’s given her a quality of life she’d likely not have otherwise. The miracles of modern medicine.

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  • Wow what a strong girl – hope she has a bright future.

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  • What a story – how inspiring this family is. I hope this little girl manages to achieve her dreams.

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  • Gorgeous girl x

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  • What an amazing job they did to her face. The girl is really brave indeed. And what an amazing supporting sister she has. :-)

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  • She is such a brave little girl to go through this ordeal for so much of her life. Her sister is wonderful to undertake her fundraising campaign to help the hospital as well.

    Reply

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