This is Tambu Makinzi. When she began experiencing constant headaches, she suspected something was wrong. Soon, her forehead swelled, and doctors diagnosed her with chondrosarcoma, a rare bone cancer.
Despite undergoing treatment, the cancer returned aggressively, covering her face, nose, jaw, and left eye. It even robbed her of her sense of smell.
She traveled over 9,000 miles from Cape Town to London for treatment, only to be told she had just months to live.
However, her story took a miraculous turn. Professor Iain Hutchison led a 35-hour surgery, removing 2 kg of tumor and reconstructing her face using muscle and rib from her back.
A second surgery was needed to remove dead tissue, but Tambu is now on the road to recovery. Her inspiring journey will be featured in a Channel 5 documentary.
