Avatar face girl needs help for operation

The parents of a young Chinese women dubbed "Avatar girl" have appealed for help for an operation to save their daughter's life.

Twenty-two-year old Wu Xiaoyan's parents have been unable to afford the medical costs and have had to watch helplessly as their beloved daughter's face twisted out of shape - leaving her looking like one of the creations from the Avatar movie.

Doctor Liao Quiqing from the hospital that is treating her in Lishui Zhejang, Southern China said: "She now has a severe facial deformity - a Fibrous Dysplasia.

"She cannot breathe through her nose or smell and can no longer see properly. She is very brave and doesn't complain but she must be in a lot of pain.

"Because her tumor has already occupied two-thirds of the face we want to remove it and then carry out chemotherapy and radiotherapy."

But the family that has already spent £10,000 on treatment cannot afford the extra £20,000 needed to complete the surgery.

All the family members are farmers and have little more than £100 a month income each. In addition her mother has been incapacitated after a stroke and the father is struggling to look after her and continue to make a living.

Click here for the latest update published on 09.04.2010.

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