A NEW BEGINNING: HENNGLISE DORIVAL’S LIFE-CHANGING SURGERY

At 15 years old, Hennglise Dorival carried a four-pound tumor that severely disfigured the left side of her face. What had started years earlier as a pea-sized mass grew into a giant ameloblastoma—a benign yet aggressive tumor originating in her teeth and maxillary sinus. Expanding across her cheek, jaw, and eye socket, it displaced her left eye, severely impaired her vision, and threatened to compromise her airway. The condition forced her to leave school, hide behind a scarf, and live in isolation in Haiti.

Her life changed in 2011 when American businessman Larry O’Reilly met her in a mountain village and decided to help. After an initial surgery in Haiti failed to remove the growth, O’Reilly partnered with Project HOPE, Operation Smile, and Dr. William Magee. Hennglise was brought to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia, for advanced care.

On April 28, 2014, Dr. Magee led a grueling 12-hour operation to excise the massive mass. The complex procedure required removing affected jawbone and using prosthetic materials to reconstruct her eye socket and facial frame. Weighing over four pounds, it was the largest tumor of its type Dr. Magee had ever removed.

Though her vision could not be saved and further reconstructive surgeries were needed, the operation was a triumph. She no longer needed to hide behind a scarf, expressing profound joy over her transformation. Her case stands as a powerful testament to global collaboration and the gift of a second chance at life.