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News
Articles
Magazine Articles Peruvian Girl Heads Home With New Face [7/21/05]Seven years ago a Chattanooga medical team in Peru, accompanied by a film crew, encountered a teenager with a facial deformity so disfiguring she was known as “the girl without a face.” Lisset Cayo and her compelling story were chronicled in the documentary “Faces in the Forest,” which has been shown on The Learning Channel, PBS and worldwide on National Geographic International. Public interest, spurred by the film and the work of the Chattanooga-based Tennessee Craniofacial Center, led to Lisset’s arrival at Erlanger in 2001 for major facial reconstruction. Accepting her case represented a huge commitment of time and resources from her doctors, as well as a major financial commitment from the Craniofacial Foundation of America – which underwrote medical expenses, food, travel and lodging for both Lisset and her mother, Mercedes. During her five months in Chattanooga that year, Lisset underwent three major surgeries that laid the groundwork for a prosthetic eye and ear. This April Lisset returned to Erlanger for her final surgery, performed by local craniofacial specialist, Dr. Larry Sargent, which moved her closer to her dream of having a normal appearance. Before returning to Peru on Tuesday (July 19), Lisset unveiled her new facial prosthesis and implanted hearing device at a news conference in Erlanger’s Medical Mall. During the press conference, Dr. Sargent discussed his interest in Lisset’s plight, noting that “when a person has severe facial deformity, it can have a disastrous effect on them, both from a psychological and physical standpoint. By being able to return them to a normal appearance, you give them a second chance; everybody deserves the right to look normal.” CLICK HERE to view complete process. Craniofacial Team Head to Peru for Medical Mission [10/9/97]A team from the Tennessee Craniofacial Center will head to Lima and Pucallpa, Peru tomorrow morning with one mission in mind - putting smiles on the faces of children with craniofacial deformities. Dubbed the "International Medical Program," this is the Center's 2nd such trip to Peru. Last year, the team headed by Dr. Larry Sargent, performed 29 surgeries in 5 days - all free of charge. Supplies and some medical personnel are being donated for this year's trip by Erlanger Health System. All media are invited to see the team off on their trip at the main concourse of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport tomorrow, October 10 at 10 a.m. Their flight is scheduled to depart at 10:25 a.m. Craniofacial Patient to Celebrate Birthday [9/18/97]Vintavius Washington, the craniofacial patient who "stole the heart of Chattanooga," will be in town on Friday, September 19 for an appointment with Dr. Larry Sargent- and to celebrate his 5th birthday. Vintavius, from Red Banks, Mississippi, was born with amniotic band syndrome which caused extensive facial clefts and craniofacial deformities. He is currently being treated at the Tennessee Craniofacial Center, part of the Erlanger Health System. In February of this year, Vintavius underwent an extensive craniofacial surgery to move his eyes closer together and re-contour his brow. He is scheduled for two additional surgeries in the coming months. All media are invited to attend Vintavius' birthday party where Dr. Sargent will provide an update on his progress. Please meet Todd Womack at the top of the escalators next to the information desk in the main lobby, tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. Craniofacial Patient Heads Home [2/21/97]Four year old "Scooter" Washington will be heading back to Red Banks, Mississippi tomorrow, after undergoing successful craniofacial surgery on February 13. "Scooter" is scheduled to undergo at least two more surgeries to correct a number of rare deformities, including facial clefting, skull deformities, an extremely wide space between his eyes, and orthopedic problems. In this first surgery, the child's forehead was reconstructed, his eyes moved closer together, and preliminary work was done to develop a framework for his nose. Update on Vintavius "Scooter" Washington [2/13/97]Surgery continues at this hour on four your old Vintavius "Scooter" Washington from Red Banks, Mississippi. Craniofacial surgeon, Larry Sargent, M.D. and Neurosurgeon, Tim Strait, M.D. began the operation at approximately 7:45 this morning. The operation is expected to last another one and a half to two hours. Dr. Sargent reports that the forehead has been reconstructed, achieving a better contour for the child. The eyes have been moved closer together and work is currently being done to develop a framework for the nose. This operation is the first in a series of staged procedures which the child will undergo before this facial reconstruction is completed. The next stage will involve reconstruction of his nose. The Washington family has the support of several relatives and friends from Mississippi. They have been overwhelmed with the caring concern for their family by the city of Chattanooga. Chance Meeting Brings Hope for Child [2/12/97]When Vintavius Washington was born four years ago with severe facial deformities, his mother refused to believe that he could not have a normal life. Diagnosed with a combination of rare deformities, including facial clefting, orthopedic problems, skull deformities, and an extremely wide space between his eyes, Vintavius underwent his first surgery when he was just six months old. At the time of Vintavius' birth, the family was living in Jackson, Mississippi. His parents, Vincent and Cherie, began looking for someone who could help their son and were referred to a craniofacial physician in Tacoma, Washington. Upon meeting him, they moved to Tacoma so that Vintavius could be near his physician during treatment. After that first surgery, Ms. Washington was "amazed," noting that, "The physician repaired Vintavius' cleft lip, soft palate and his leg.The results were very good." The Washingtons were told that they would have to wait until Vintavius was 3 years old for more extensive surgery. During that time, however, the surgeon retired. "I was so disappointed," remembered Ms. Washington, "but we decided to follow a referral which led us to Seattle last April. The physician there did major surgery to rebuild the bridge of Vintavius' nose, reconstruct his eye sockets, and reconstruct his forehead. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with those results. "I called my mom crying and wondering what to do," related Ms. Washington. "At that point all I wanted was to get my son as normal looking as he could be." It was a chance meeting at a gas station which was the turning point for Vintavius. The youngster and his grandfather were traveling to Little Rock, Arkansas. A stranger approached the pair and told them he noticed Vintavius' facial problems. He told them that a physician in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a Dr. Larry Sargent, had worked wonders on other children and might be able to help Vintavius. When she contacted The Tennessee Craniofacial Center and looked at the results that Dr. Sargent had experienced with other patients, Ms. Washington became very excited as she realized that she had finally found a physician who could treat her son. "We were planning to go back to Washington, but we were so happy with Dr. Sargent that we decided to move to Red Banks, Mississippi so that we could be closer to him," said Ms. Washington. Ms. Washington is excited about the first of several surgeries scheduled for Vintavius at Erlanger Health System on February 13. Dr. Sargent will perform an extensive craniofacial procedure with Dr. Tim Strait, neurosurgeon, in a surgery which will take more than 10 hours. Vintavius' operation will move his eyes closer together and contour his forehead. Although her son may never be completely "normal," Ms. Washington remains optimistic that Dr. Sargent's expertise will make an extraordinary difference. "We have total confidence in Dr. Sargent's work. I can hardly wait to see the results of the surgery; it's been a long road but Vintavius is worth it. We have faith in God, and we know that He'll see us through this," said Ms. Washington.
The Tennessee Craniofacial
Center, part of the Erlanger Health System, is located in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. The Center, led Larry A. Sargent, M.D., specializes in the
evaluation and treatment of patients of all ages with craniofacial deformities.
Location: 975
East Third Street. Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
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Pictured (in the group shot) are back row, Scott Fiscus with Precision Ocular Prosthetics who made Lisset’s facial prosthesis; Dwayne Smith with the Staughmann Company, which donated both the facial prosthetic devices Lisset took back to Peru; Susie Keith, pediatric audiologist with T. C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Therapy Services, who fitted Lisset with her new hearing device; Lisset Cayo; and Dr. Larry Sargent, with the Plastic Surgery Group and Tennessee Craniofacial Center, who undertook this immensely challenging facial reconstruction.