Troops rally to disfigured boy’s plight

A DISFIGURED four-year-old boy from Bosnia has been brought to Britain to find out if surgeons can help him.

Stefan Savic, who was born with a facial cleft, is being assessed at world famous Great Ormond Street Hospital where it is hoped he may be able to have surgery later in the year.

Stefan and his mother and aunt were brought to London after the youngster's plight touched the hearts of soldiers stationed in Banja Luka. The peacekeeping troops of B Squadron of the Royal Lancers encouraged local community fundraising efforts and £24,000 was eventually found to pay for his treatment.

Craniofacial surgeon David Dunaway, who has agreed to waive his fee to carry out the operation, said the surgery could result in a "very dramatic improvement" in Stefan's appearance.

"From our point of view he is in for assessment and his treatment is still at an early stage," Mr Dunaway said.

Stefan is having tests to determine how his hearing, sight and other factors might be affected by his condition and any surgery.

Mr Dunaway said during the operation known as facial bi-partition the bones in Stefan's face would be broken, excess material removed and the face pulled together again.