Photo: 3-year-old boy is suffering because his lower lip won't stop growing

Photo: 3-year-old boy is suffering
because his lower lip won't stop
growing
When 22-year-old Gilfred Mathe and his girlfriend
Moditor Shoko, 20 found out they were going to
have a baby three years ago, they were over the
moon. But their joy soon turned to shock when
their son, Prosper Mathe, was born with a very
long tongue hanging out of his mouth.
They hoped Prosper would get better as he got
older, but the tongue just carried on growing and
growing. After a while, the child couldn’t eat any
more. He had to be put on a drip. Eventually the
boy was operated on and his tongue was made
shorter.
"The operation went well" Gilfred said. "We
thought the problem was over, but we were just
fooling ourselves. We soon noticed Prosper’s
lower lip had been dragged down and stretched
by the weight of the tongue but again we thought
it would come right by itself."
The family has moved to Phomolong in Tembisa,
Ekurhuleni to start a new life but Prosper’s
problems have followed them there. The child’s
lower lip has continued swelling and he now finds
it hard to eat.
Gilfred said he took the boy to a number of
doctors but was told it would cost R18 000 for an
operation. He works at a restaurant and cannot
afford the operation on his current salary.
"I just ask myself why God had to punish me in
this way. I hope someone out there can help
Prosper."
Plastic surgeon Kelly Martin told Daily Sun
Prosper could have a malformed blood vessel in
his lips and tongue. Dr. Martin took the family’s
details and promised to arrange for a consultation
with the little boy.