A young man came from Madagascar, Africa. In Madagascar, he lived in a rural village that does not have access to electricity and is off the grid, where even the global COVID-19 pandemic was unable to reach. There was only one reason why he left the village he had never left until he was 22 years old and went on a 20-hour flight. He wished to treat a disease that name had not even been known for more than a decade at Asan Medical Center. It was his lifetime courage and last hope.

"Everyone said I’ve been cursed."

Dr. Jae-hoon Lee, a medical missionary, was the first person to meet Flangie. It was when he visited a rural village while carrying out medical missions in Madagascar. There was a young man called ‘a child with a gruesome lump’ or ‘a haunted child.’ As soon as Dr. Lee saw Flangie's face, he wondered how Flangie had been eating. A protruding 15cm wide, 13cm long, and 10cm deep lump covered Flangie’s mouth."Flangie developed a small inflammation after his mother pulled out his teeth due to pain on the molar side when he was eight years old. There was no hospital in the village to treat it. Inflammation grew as it progressed to a giant cell reparative granuloma. People began to regard it as a curse, not a disease. People also said that it was because Flangie and his family were sinned. Due to friends’ neglect and bullying, Flangie had to drop out of school before he could even learn to write. "When I talked to Flangie, there were so many things he wanted to do and hoped for. He is a young man who just passed puberty. In his mind, the face of his childhood still lingers and wished to turn back time. I kept thinking about how I could be of a help."

Dr. Lee inquired several hospitals in Korea to treat Flangie and Asan Medical Center and Asan Foundation readily responded. Dr. Lee has a close tie with Asan Medical Center for he was the ASAN Award winner in Medical Service in 2018. After receiving the promise of medical support, Dr. Lee informed Flangie and his family. Despite the explanation that he would have to go to a faraway country and prepare for difficult operation, Flangie answered without hesitation, "I want to try anything even if it risks my life." At first, his family, who hesitated, also had expectations that they could lift the ‘curse.’ While preparing for the trip to Korea, Dr. Lee first registered Flangie’s birth. No one knew his exact birthday, so Dr. Lee calculated Flangie’s approximate age and registered his birth as January 1, 2000. In August 2022, Flangie departed for Korea.

“Helping to heal a person's injured body and mind is the role of a plastic surgeon.”

"Let's stay in the hospital dormitory for a couple of weeks and eat as much as you can!" Professor Jong-Woo Choi of the Department of Plastic Surgery gave Flangie a mission before his operation. Flangie was thin enough to be suspected of undernutrition. Hemoglobin and albumin levels were also far short of the average, making general anesthesia impossible. When the red light turned on in an unexpected factor, the surgery schedule could not be planned. As more detailed examination was conducted, Professor Choi felt sorry. "Flangie's disease was a giant cell reparative granuloma, a rare disease that occurs in about one in a million people. If it had been discovered in the early stages, it could have been treated with medication. However, it seemed that Flangie’s jawbone had been deformed and the inner teeth have been missing since being left unattended for more than 10 years. There was no other way but surgery."

Professor Choi was relieved for Flangie had gained his physical strength for two weeks. Korean food seemed to give good appetite for Flangie. In the meantime, the medical staff made treatment plans. Professor Choi decided to transplant skin, including leg bones, arteries, and veins, into the neck part of Flangie when the tumor is removed. Since bones need to be accurately aligned to heal well, the team improved accuracy using simulations and 3D printers. "I remember when I met Flangie during teleconference. His voice was very small and silent. It shows what kind of life he's been through. I have seen many patients suffering from social stigma while treating patients with congenital deformities or severely distorted faces. Knowing when they are most happy is very simple. It is when people see them as normal, ordinary people. Flangie will not be much different. Eliminating that social stigma was my and the team's goal of treatment."

On October 16, the surgery started early in the morning. The Department of Plastic Surgery, Department of Dentistry, and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery collaborated to perform the surgery as planned in advance. The tumor itself was so huge that there was a lot of bleeding in the area where many blood vessels were distributed. The surgery with the means to rebuild Flangie's body and mind went on eight hours. Now, it was time to open up to a new daily life.

"I also wish to become a missionary, praying for people in need like me."

Professor Choi carefully checked the condition of the Flangie until he was stabilized after surgery. Accordingly, the date of return to Madagascar had been set. Medical staff gathered together when they heard the news of Flangie’s return. Flangie, who took off his patient gown, looked like any other 22-year-old young man. When Flangie took off his mask, some of the medical staff who saw Flangie only in the operating room applauded and cheered. Although there still was swelling, smooth skin covered the spot where the scarlet tumor was. Professor Choi congratulated Flangie. "It must have been a difficult treatment process for Flangie, but I'm grateful that he endured it well. It would be nice to receive dental implants, but the time given is too short...” Professor Choi expressed his regret. Flangie could not understand the content, but he hugged Professor Choi first. The affectionate medical staff seemed to have been fully conveyed. Flangie said he wanted to go back to his hometown quickly and show people his changed self. He also told about his dream of learning how to read and write and become a missionary, delivering hope to people in need like him. Still a little bit awkward, but a definite smile spread on Flangie’s face.