Novemthree Siahaan
Encyclopedia
Novemthree Siahaan was a young Indonesian boy who had the rare condition gigantiform cementoma
. The story of his life garnered much media attention when he was taken to Taiwan
for treatment. His surgeries were filmed for international broadcast on the Discovery television network.
, Novemthree was raised in a poor village. His mother sent him to live with his grandparents at a young age, before the cementoma had started to grow. When they returned to Novemthree roughly eight months later, the cementoma had already grown to alarming size; so much that Novemthree's parents questioned if it were actually their son. Extremely concerned, Novemthree's parents brought him to the local doctor (the only one they could afford) and he informed Novemthree's father that it was most likely black magic
that was supposed to affect him, but instead attacked Novemthree. Time passed, and the cementoma had grown to cover nearly his entire face. Novemthree could no longer see out of his right eye, lost his ability to walk, had respiratory problems due to his airway being blocked, and had to lift his head up to drink. Before surgery, the cementoma weighed in approximately at two pounds.
placed a tube in Novemthree's trachea
to allow him to breathe while removing his tumours. The surgeons would have to cut the tumour in three different surgeries and re-sculpt his face because the tumors had destroyed much of his facial structure. The first surgery was performed on Novemthree's left cheek
, giving him sight in his left eye. The second surgery performed was to excise the tumour under his chin. The third surgery excised the tumor in his mouth and nasal cavity as well as the one in his right cheek. In spite of doubts from the surgical team, he regained sight in his right eye as well. The final surgery would resize Novemthree's mouth
, and reconstruct his face to approximate normality.
Novemthree had to endure physical therapy
to regain his ability to walk, and speech therapy to teach him how to speak again. Though it was expected that he would need future surgeries, Novemthree was soon allowed back home. The hope was that the boy would be able to recuperate as well as mature, so that more bone would grow for the doctors to continue to reshape Novemthree's face.
(which would be difficult to keep clean due to poor sanitary conditions in his home village) as well as the unexpected rapidity of the tumour's regrowth.
Novemthree was sent back home mere hours before the original time for the operation.
On September 14, 2005, Novemthree died in his sleep, at the age of 6, due to a respiratory infection in his chest. The Tzu Chi foundation gave him a proper burial
.
in 2005. Viewers were drawn to Novemthree's story because of the severity of the deformity as well as the boy's sweet character. His father Siahaan describes his son as "a kind, wise and clever kid. Whenever he was feeling ill he never once complained to us, he simply took all his suffering on his own.". It was only at the end of the program in a footnote, did viewers learn of Novemthree's passing.
A second TV show about Novemthree and his medical condition has been produced and aired, in which his death is also depicted.
Gigantiform cementoma
Gigantiform cementoma is a rare, autosomal dental tumor. It is benign, but without intervention it can result in severe disfigurement of the jaw. The cause of this tumor is currently unknown. This is an exceedingly rare tumor with only a handful of documented cases worldwide...
. The story of his life garnered much media attention when he was taken to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
for treatment. His surgeries were filmed for international broadcast on the Discovery television network.
Background
Born with a normal face in Batam Island, November 3, 1998, IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Novemthree was raised in a poor village. His mother sent him to live with his grandparents at a young age, before the cementoma had started to grow. When they returned to Novemthree roughly eight months later, the cementoma had already grown to alarming size; so much that Novemthree's parents questioned if it were actually their son. Extremely concerned, Novemthree's parents brought him to the local doctor (the only one they could afford) and he informed Novemthree's father that it was most likely black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
that was supposed to affect him, but instead attacked Novemthree. Time passed, and the cementoma had grown to cover nearly his entire face. Novemthree could no longer see out of his right eye, lost his ability to walk, had respiratory problems due to his airway being blocked, and had to lift his head up to drink. Before surgery, the cementoma weighed in approximately at two pounds.
Medical care in Taiwan
Novemthree needed immediate medical attention. The surgeons at Tz'u Chi Buddhist General Hospital in Hualien, TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
placed a tube in Novemthree's trachea
Vertebrate trachea
In tetrapod anatomy the trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that connects the pharynx or larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air. It is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium cells with goblet cells that produce mucus...
to allow him to breathe while removing his tumours. The surgeons would have to cut the tumour in three different surgeries and re-sculpt his face because the tumors had destroyed much of his facial structure. The first surgery was performed on Novemthree's left cheek
Cheek
Cheeks constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. They may also be referred to as jowls. "Buccal" means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve...
, giving him sight in his left eye. The second surgery performed was to excise the tumour under his chin. The third surgery excised the tumor in his mouth and nasal cavity as well as the one in his right cheek. In spite of doubts from the surgical team, he regained sight in his right eye as well. The final surgery would resize Novemthree's mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
, and reconstruct his face to approximate normality.
Novemthree had to endure physical therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
to regain his ability to walk, and speech therapy to teach him how to speak again. Though it was expected that he would need future surgeries, Novemthree was soon allowed back home. The hope was that the boy would be able to recuperate as well as mature, so that more bone would grow for the doctors to continue to reshape Novemthree's face.
Death
One year later the tumour, which had been shaped to form the lost skull bones, began to grow back. He was taken back to the hospital for further surgery as the tumors had grown faster than the doctors expected and his breathing was becoming restricted. A second procedure was needed. However, doctors hesitated to perform the operation due to concerns about the necessity of a permanent tracheotomyTracheotomy
Among the oldest described surgical procedures, tracheotomy consists of making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening a direct airway through an incision in the trachea...
(which would be difficult to keep clean due to poor sanitary conditions in his home village) as well as the unexpected rapidity of the tumour's regrowth.
Novemthree was sent back home mere hours before the original time for the operation.
On September 14, 2005, Novemthree died in his sleep, at the age of 6, due to a respiratory infection in his chest. The Tzu Chi foundation gave him a proper burial
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
.
Media
Novemthree's story was shared on the Discovery Health ChannelDiscovery Health Channel
Discovery Health Channel is a website owned by Discovery Communications, created for people interested in health and wellness. Until December 31, 2010, it was a U.S. cable television specialty channel dedicated to television programming that highlights various aspects of health and wellness...
in 2005. Viewers were drawn to Novemthree's story because of the severity of the deformity as well as the boy's sweet character. His father Siahaan describes his son as "a kind, wise and clever kid. Whenever he was feeling ill he never once complained to us, he simply took all his suffering on his own.". It was only at the end of the program in a footnote, did viewers learn of Novemthree's passing.
A second TV show about Novemthree and his medical condition has been produced and aired, in which his death is also depicted.