Korea gives obese Kiwis lifesaving surgery
Reported November 12, 2011
Two morbidly obese Kiwi women who accepted an offer of life saving surgery from Korean authorities have both undergone gastric sleeve operations.
TV ONE’s Close Up met the pair last June as they tried to persuade their District Health Boards to give them the bariatric surgery they desperately wanted.
The DHB’s did not offer the procedure but the Korean Tourism board saw an opportunity and offered the women the surgery, pre and post operative care, return airfares and accommodation, all free of charge.
Lynda Sim and Jasmin Sciascua accepted the offer against their doctor’s advice.
Lynda, 45, weighed 151kg before the operation while Jasmin, 26, was 200kg prior to going under the knife.
The women had to undergo a series of eligibility tests before they were admitted to Soochunhyang University Hospital in Itaewon.
The top executives at the Korean Medical Institute and the Korean Tourism board oversaw their entire stay, hoping to showcase why they are the leaders in medical tourism.
“This is a very good chance for Korea to introduce to the world, in your country anyway, we have such good facilities,” a spokesman for the Korean Tourism Board said.
While the women were waiting for their surgery, they were visited by fellow Kiwi Jenni Herkes. The former Palmerston North woman has had the operation and has been living in Korea for the past three years.
Herkes was able to offer comfort to the anxious pair.
“I think I left all the nerves at home and everything and now they’re hitting me at once,” Jasmin said prior to the operation.
Lynda also found waiting for the surgery very emotional.
“I’ve lived all my life being big, I’m going to cry, being ashamed about the way I look…for me this is a chance for being normal,” she said.
Problems with excess fat led to the operation going twice as long as doctors had hoped but both women came through without any serious complications.
And although they both experienced significant pain following the procedure they agreed the results would be worth it in the end.
“No regrets, none, not a one, the best thing I’ve ever done,” Lynda said.
Credits and more News: http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/korea-gives-obese-kiwis-lifesaving-surgery-4048271