Dec 15, 2008 7:05 pm US/Eastern
Liberian Boy Gets Reconstructive Surgery In NYC
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
(CBS)
A 7-year-old boy from Liberia is about to head home, after receiving the gift of a new life from doctors in New York.
Samuel Urey was born with Crouzon Syndrome. His skull was too small, which put pressure on his brain and eyes. He'd nearly gone blind in his right eye by the time he made it to NYU's Institute for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.
"The final problem these children have is they have trouble breathing. They have trouble getting air and oxygen in his body," said Dr. Joseph G. McCarthy from the Institute.
After eight hours of surgery that loosened up bones in Samuel's skull, he wore a device for three months straight to slowly finish the job of expanding his brain cavity and facial bones. Twice a day, his mother had to turn a screw.
"We gave her a little wrench and she turned it twice a day half a milimeter in the morning and half a milimeter in the evening," Dr. McCarthy said.
Today, he's running around the Institute giving everyone serious bear hugs. After seven months, he's heading home to Liberia, where his mom tells me he'd been ostracized. His loving, single mother fought all her life to protect Samuel and says faith is the key.
"Even when you try to look for the solution by yourself, it might not come as you want it you might get disappointed, you just pray and wait for direction," his mother, Kor Yelegon, said.
When CBS 2 HD's Cindy Hsu met Samuel, he went straight for the microphone. "What do you think, you like it?" Cindy asked. "Take it, I'm going to take it," Samuel answered.
It's hard to say no to this little boy who had an important message for the incredible team who gave him the gift of a second chance: "I'd like to say thank you."
Samuel and his mother head home to Liberia on December 29. Doctors said he's good to go and likely won't need any more operations.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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