Khadija Y., 10

Khadija is a 10 year old female child living with her parents in a small community of Yobe, Potiskum which is about 300km from the city of Bauchi. The family are poor, they struggle so hard to feed. They live in a 2 rooms apartment with a pit toilet for everyone. There is a well inside the compound. They don't have access to electricity. Khadija is being bullied in school because of how she looks, she is so reserved. Today, they come looking for help so that her life will be changed. Khadija, a 10 years old female, was born with a bluish-dark colored patch on the right side of her mouth. As she grow the lesion coalesced into a swelling that has gradually expanded to involve her right cheek up to but not involving the right ear. The right side of the lip is noticed to be growing and projecting outward making it difficult for her to close her mouth or maintain good oral hygiene. There is no similar problem elsewhere and no other medical condition. No family history of similar condition. Examination revealed multinodular lesions on the right cheek extending to the lip, bluish in color at the vermilion, cystic in nature with palpable nidus in larger cysts in keeping with phleboliths. Lesion extends to the oral mucosa around right commissure. Diagnosis: Right Cheek and Lip Venous Malformation to rule out Lymphatic Malformation. Treatment Plan: Debulking surgery with lip and cheek reconstruction. The family cannot afford the medical bills for the treatment that is why they came all the way from Yobe State for medical support from Helpster Charity.

Khadija Yusuf, a 10-year-old girl, was admitted on 13 August 2026 for treatment of a congenital vascular malformation affecting her right cheek and lip. The progressively enlarging bluish swelling interfered with lip closure and oral hygiene. Following assessment, she was diagnosed with a right cheek and lip venous malformation, with lymphatic malformation to be ruled out. She underwent debulking surgery with reconstruction of the cheek and lip. Postoperatively, she received pentazocine, paracetamol and later co-codamol for pain control. She was treated with ceftriaxone and metronidazole, later changed to oral Augmentin and metronidazole. Tranexamic acid was given to support haemostasis. She received wound care and close postoperative monitoring and recovered satisfactorily. She was discharged clinically stable with a WholeCare-designed compression cap and scheduled follow-up for wound healing, facial contour and ongoing management.

Venous malformation, formally called cavernous hemangioma, is a congenital disorder that affects the face and the lower lip commonly. It continues to grow as the child grows. It can ulcerate leading to life threatening bleeding and or infection. It is treated by debulking surgery and reconstruction of the defect. The surgery requires a specialist as the lesion envelops vital structures that could be damaged if not carefully done. The surgery prevents risk of torrential life-threatening bleeding and is life changing to the child. Prognosis depends on the timely and appropriate treatment.