CHA Bundang Hospital said it provided medical care to a 2-year-old Bangladeshi child, surnamed Mohammed, with cholesteatoma and epilepsy.
Cholesteatoma is an abnormal, noncancerous growth that forms behind the eardrum or from the eardrum. In children patients, the disease can grow in size and damage their ossicles, the bones that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear, causing hearing loss.
The treatment was sponsored by the "Messenger of Love" program, supported by CHA Bundang Hospital, the Dream Hope Future Foundation, and Ms. Kwon Yeon-ah.
Mohammed's mother grew up in Korea with her parents, both migrant workers from Bangladesh.
As an adult, she returned to Bangladesh and gave birth to a son, but he suffered from a high fever and a developed cholesteatoma as he grew.
While the mother tried to find a way to treat Mohammed, but the poor healthcare in the country made it difficult.
As a result, Sabina arrived back in Korea and started looking for a hospital, she was referred to CHA Bundang Hospital by Catholic priest Father Lee Jung Ho, who had been a great support during her time in Korea.
After visiting CHA Bundang Hospital on Sunday, Mohammed underwent surgery for cholesteatoma on Monday by Professor Kim Hyung-mi of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Professor Kim operated on Mohammed's right eardrum, removing a white mass and creating an artificial eardrum.
After the successful surgery, Mohammed will receive epilepsy treatment from Professor Chae Kyu-young of the Department of Pediatrics and rehabilitation treatment from Professor Seo Mi-ri of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
"The surgery for the cholesteatoma in his right ear went well," Professor Kim said. "He must have been very uncomfortable, but I hope he recovers quickly, eats well, and is more cheerful."
Professor Chae also said, "Right now, Mohammed has a developmental disability, and if he actively receives rehabilitation treatment along with his epilepsy treatment, he is expected to grow up healthy."
Mohammed's mother also expressed her happiness.
"I was worried about the difficulty of treatment due to the poor medical conditions in Bangladesh, but I am happy that my son could receive treatment in Korea," the mother said. "I am very grateful to those who helped, Father Lee, and all the medical staff at CHA Bundang Hospital."
Meanwhile, CHA Bundang Hospital has been conducting the Messenger of Love program to support surgeries and treatments for patients who are unable to receive treatment due to financial difficulties since 1998.
Starting with domestic treatment in 1998, the hospital has treated 189 overseas patients in 25 years, including patients from Yanbian, China, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
In addition, the organization supports the medical expenses of more than 600 low-income Korean patients every year.