Sharon

Sharon has made a great recovery from her operation.

14-yr-old Sharon had been living with ameloblastoma — a benign but aggressively expanding tumour of the jaw.

What began as a small swelling on her lower jaw gradually grew, causing increasing pain, difficulty eating, and visible distortion to her face. Without treatment, the tumour would have continued to destroy bone, making everyday functions like speaking and eating even more challenging.

Beyond the physical toll, the emotional impact on Sharon was profound. She became withdrawn, avoided smiling, and missed school due to both discomfort and fear of being teased. Her family desperately wanted to help but could not afford the complex surgery she needed.

Thanks to your support, Sharon was able to undergo life-changing surgery. The procedure was carried out by maxillofacial surgeon Dr Daniel Macho, who carefully removed the tumour-affected section of her lower jaw and placed a reconstruction plate to restore both structure and function.

Sharon’s surgery was successful. The tumour has been fully removed, eliminating the risk of further bone damage and recurrence. The reconstruction has restored the shape of her jaw, protected her airway, and will allow her to eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.

Sharon is now recovering well and beginning to look ahead  to returning to school, rebuilding her confidence, and enjoying life free from pain.

Every part of Sharon’s journey — from imaging and tests to the reconstruction plate, surgery, hospital care, and follow-up — has been made possible through the money raised at the XNRG Amersham Ultra.

Thank you to everyone who took part and helped fund this vital operation.

To fund more operations for children like Sharon please visit: https://www.humanitydirect.org/universal-fund/