Congolese boy who was left severely disfigured after being attacked by wild chimpanzees in his native country to undergo rare facial reconstruction surgery in NYC
- Dunia Sibomana, 8, had his lips ripped off and one cheek torn apart
- He now finds it very difficult to eat and talk
- The attack killed Dunia's four-year-old brother and young cousin
- He will now undergo reconstructive surgery paid for by non-profit foundation, Smile Rescue for Kid
Only three other cases of this type of surgery documented
Dunia Sibomana, 8, was left severely disfigured after a group of chimpanzees attacked him two years ago, ripping off his lips and tearing one cheek apart. The attack killed his four-year-old brother and a young cousin
Now, eight-year-old Dunia is set to undergo a rare and complicated surgery at a Long Island hospital that will use tissue and muscle from his forearm to recreate both lips. The hope is that he will once again be able to open and close his mouth, and eat and talk normally.
Dr. Leon Klempner, an associate professor of dentistry at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, where Dunia will undergo the operation, said: 'As you can imagine, not having any lips, the food can just come right out.
'He drools all the time and can't pronounce different words.'
Dunia had also stopped going to school because the other children in his native Congo ridiculed him.
Alexander Dagum, the hospital's chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery, said he believes there are only three other documented cases where the same surgery has been performed. The hospital is covering the cost of the surgery and the doctors have all donated their time.
Since the attack two years ago, which killed Dunia's four-year-old brother and a young cousin, Dunia has been the target of bullies and become shy and withdrawn.
Dunia had also stopped going to school because the other children in his native Congo ridiculed him
In his short time in the United States, he has been living with a host family on Long Island, attending elementary school and learning English in addition to his native Swahili.
Appearing for an interview with this doctors on Monday, Dunia, buried himself in video games on a tablet and colored with markers. He occasionally stuck his tongue out at the doctors as they explained the procedure.
Klempner said: 'We're feeling very optimistic. We're hoping after the surgery he'll reintegrate into society and perhaps go back to school or have some semblance of a normal life.'
