‘It’s the right thing to do’: How dedicated surgeons helped Malik reach for the sky

Little Malik arrived in Melbourne with big dreams — but first he needed help just to walk. Here’s how generous Victorians and a dedicated medical team helped a little fighter take flight.

It has taken extensive and skilled surgery and the dedication of a determined team in Melbourne to help Malik Dos Reis stand on his own two feet.

The seven-year-old from Australia’s northern neighbour Timor-Leste, formerly East Timor, arrived here in February with big dreams: first he wanted to walk, next to run and then one day even to fly.

To achieve this Malik faced the daunting and painful challenge of limb-lengthening surgery to help fix degenerative growth plate issues in his knee.

Orthopaedic surgeon Leo Donnan donated his time to the Children First Foundation, a Melbourne-based not-for-profit, and performed the operation at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, which also generously provided its services for free.

Professor Donnan, who specialises in the correction of congenital deformities, says the hospital allows him to do up to five free surgeries a year for Children First. He also operates at other hospitals, performing around six free surgeries annually for the Foundation.

“Why do I do it? Because we’re lucky (in Australia),” Professor Donnan said. “And it’s also the right thing to do. If you can do something that makes a significant long-term difference to a child, you do it.

Malik Dos Reis, 7, and his mum Sonia. Picture: David Caird

“You can’t sit in a country like Australia and go, ‘we can’t do things for other people’, that’s rubbish. We have the wherewithal, the opportunity, the wealth and we have the people that are prepared to put their time in and do it.”

He said it was not just surgeons or hospitals donating services or time.

“It’s all the anaesthetists, physiotherapists, general practitioners and then a whole team that they wrap around the kids to look after them. Children First does a fantastic job of bringing all that together.”

Professor Donnan said a four-hour surgery was needed to correct Malik’s knee, which had been damaged by an abnormal growth plate in his left leg likely triggered by an infection when he was a baby.

“It is most likely he had septicaemia, got an infection around the growth plate and that destroyed the outside part of the growth plate in his leg,” he said.

Malik Dos Reis recovers after the four-hour surgery at St Vincent's Private Hospital performed by Professor Leo Donnan. Picture: Supplied

This meant the inner part of Malik’s leg kept growing from the age of six weeks, which pushed his knee out to the side, leaving him unable to walk on that leg.

Jessica Redwood, CEO of the Foundation, said Children First couldn’t transform the lives of children like Malik without the support of hospital partners, skilled medical teams and donors.

“With their support, we aim to help more children from developing countries to access essential surgical care when they need it most,” she said.

The big hearts of so many to help her son walk unaided is, says Sonia Dos Reis, generous and life-changing.

“We are so grateful,” she said from the Ronald McDonald House in North Fitzroy that has provided accommodation for mother and son since they arrived.

RMHC’s Peter Bishop says Malik is an absolute delight and a pleasure to have around the House.

That’s obvious watching the tiny pocket-rocket weaving around the foyer on crutches, a big smile on his face, a metal leg brace to keep his leg straight the only reminder of his tough battle to get here.

Malik Dos Reis is ‘flying’ after surgery in Melbourne to repair a growth plate in his knee. Malik, who wants to be a pilot, uses his crutches for wings. Picture: David Caird

“Being able to keep families together and comfortable when their lives have been turned upside down is at the heart of what we’re here to do,” Mr Bishop said.

To this end not only has the family been supported and cared for as Malik recovers from surgery, he has also been able to join RMHC’s Learning Program so that he is ready to go back to school on his return to East Timor.

Next month Malik will have his third and final surgery to remove the metal brace and then home.

Mrs Dos Reis is looking forward to having her family back together. She had to leave her youngest children Lalia (5) and Naphan (1) in Timor-Leste in the loving care of family so she could be in Melbourne with Malik for the last four months.

While difficult, she says it has been worth the sacrifices so that her son could have this life-changing surgery.

Malik at Ronald McDonald House in North Fitzroy. Picture: Supplied

“He told me he wants to be a doctor one day to help others,” Mrs Dos Reis said proudly.

Malik chimes in: “Or a pilot”.

Malik said he had never been on a plane before his trip to Australia.

“It was this big,” he says enthusiastically with arms outstretched in wide wings, reaching for the sky.

Mrs Dos Reis says he is also excited about returning home to family and friends and getting back to school where he wants to swim and play football.

“Malik told me before we came that all he wanted was to be like the other children. When we return home, he will be,” she said.

AT A GLANCE

• Children First Foundation has helped hundreds of children from developing countries access quality surgical care

• It started in 1999 and is a not-for-profit based in Melbourne

• It is fully supported by donations and does not receive government funding