A4

THE DOMINION POST

MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2011

NEWS

dompost.co.nz

Despite dire warnings from New Zealand doctors that they could lose their lives, two Kiwi women boarded a plane to South Korea for weight-loss surgery. Kate Newton reports on a life-changing week for Jasmin Sciascia and Lynda Sim.

They dared to win weight-loss battle

OR YEARS, a wheelchair size large has stood at the ready by Lynda Sims front door for the occasional forays that the Wellington woman makes from her house. Not for much longer. One day, not many months away now, Lynda will be slim enough to walk to her own mailbox, and along the winding Karori road beyond it and she already knows how shell celebrate. One of the big milestones for me will be giving the wheelchair back. Her life, and that of Whanganui woman Jasmin Sciascia, changed forever two weeks ago when the morbidly obese pair travelled to South Korea for the weight-loss surgery that New Zealands health system had refused them. They went despite concerns of New Zealand surgeons that they would die from deep vein thrombosis on the flight; or during surgery; or from post-operative complications. They went despite their own fears and the possibility that they might never see their families again. They went because they were desperate, and desperation made them willing to take a chance. Fortunately, chance went their way. On Wednesday, February 23, Lynda and Jasmin were wheeled into surgery in Seoul, closed their eyes for what felt like a moment and then opened them again; awake, alive and minus part of their stomachs. Each underwent a sleeve gastrectomy, generally considered the safest option for the super-obese such as Lynda, 151 kilograms, and Jasmin, 200kg. About 80 per cent of the stomach is stapled off and removed, leaving a banana-shaped sleeve for food to pass through. Bariatric surgery is sometimes the last option for the morbidly obese with obesity-related health problems preventing them from losing weight any other way. The results are dramatic. After just a few months, patients can lose up to half their weight along with any related illnesses. For both women, that means an end to their type 2 diabetes, which has been robbing Lynda, 44, of her sight and raised the spectre of limb amputation, and put Jasmin, 26, in hospital for weeks at a time. For Jasmin it also means an end to predictions by doctors that she would die before her 30th birthday unless she had surgery.

Complicated task: Lynda Sims surgery took several hours longer than expected.
Until last December that life sentence seemed destined to play out, after both women were first told by their district health boards that they met the criteria, but were then informed that the surgery would not be paid for. Neither woman nor their families could entertain the idea of paying up to $35,000 for private surgery in New Zealand. They went public last year, pleading for the Government to pay for the surgery. But it was South Koreas Government that answered offering them an all-expenses paid trip to Seoul in return for becoming the poster girls of a drive to market South Korea as a safe, high-quality medical tourism destination. And so two weeks ago, the two women met in person for the first time at Auckland International Airport, accompanied by Jasmins mother, Kathy Floyd, and Lyndas improbably tiny, fine-featured sister, Raewyn Glenyse-Stockdale. Both women had seats in business class, after Whanganui surgeon Clive Solomon earlier kicked up a fuss after hearing that the Korean Tourism Organisation had booked them into economy class for the 12-hour direct flight. With more space and greater freedom to walk around, both women made it to Seoul without succumbing to deep vein thrombosis a risk for overweight longhaul travellers. The next hurdle came the following day, when the pair were admitted to Soonchunhyang University Hospital a hospital whose international clinic caters to the many foreigners living in Seoul. Exhausted and anxious, Lynda and Jasmin were put through a battery of tests to assess whether, after travelling all that way, surgery could go ahead. The lead surgeon, Kim Yongjin, had reviewed their medical records but still insisted on measuring their heart and thyroid function, and performing a throat scope to check their airways. Despite her tiredness after the flight, Lynda had a sleepless night. Oh God, I hope theres nothing wrong with me. Ill probably be devastated at the end of today if he says, No, we cant do it. Jasmins general health was better than Lyndas, but she too awaited the test results with trepidation. Coming heres quite scary. After [testing], well know whats happening for sure. Late in the afternoon, Dr Kim returned with the message that the pair had been waiting years to hear: they had the all-clear and were booked for surgery first thing in the morning. I was just like, Oh my gosh, its actually happening, Lynda said. For Jasmin, determination was dominating any other emotions. I was given five years to live four years ago, so its very important that I have this surgery. I feel a lot more at ease now. URGERY day in Seoul was freezing; the cold, dry air biting through layers of mid-winter woollens. Enveloped in the close fug of centrally heated Soonchunhyang, though, Jasmin and Lynda were inured to it as they went through final preparations. Lynda, scheduled first for surgery at 8am, was thinking of her family husband Jono, teenage son Zach and Maddie, the dog. She had spoken to Jono the night before, but there were no goodbyes, she said. Jonos an optimist. He has this little mantra: I love you, see you soon. Dr Kim had said the surgery would take about two hours, but two hours came and went. Three hours. Raewyn, Lyndas sister, was quiet now all her thoughts concentrated on what was happening in the theatre a floor below. Four hours.

Pre-op nerves: Lynda Sim waits to be taken into the operating theatre for her operation.
Finally Dr Kim reappeared, still in scrubs, to say that the surgery had been successful, though longer than expected, and Lynda was about to be wheeled into intensive care for post-op recovery. It was now Jasmins turn. Normally the louder, jokier of the two, she was subdued and didnt try to bat her mothers hand away as Kathy stroked and patted her head. A few hours later, the theatre doors opened again and Jasmin was whisked along a corridor to join Lynda in intensive care surgery successfully over. Lynda had been more likely to have complications and a rougher recovery if she made it through surgery, because of her age and her many health problems. Instead, the opposite proved true. The next morning she was sitting up with no post-surgery problems beyond some muscle pain. You know when youve had the flu and youve coughed for a long time and all your muscles ache? Its just like that, but a little bit more severe. Jasmin, on the other hand, spent the 24 hours after surgery vomiting and in acute pain. Dr Kim stayed overnight at the hospital to keep an eye on her but was pleased with her progress the next day. He had done everything possible to ensure the women were safe, he said. Before they came to Korea I thoroughly checked their medical records and there is no doubt that they are candidates. Please remember that they have no other options. He was not worried about allowing them to return home just a few days after surgery. Ideally, if patients could stay longer that would be great. But of course I will keep in touch [and] Im going to give eating instructions that they can follow . . . In the end, he was able to keep them in South Korea another week after being discharged on the Saturday, Jasmin had to be readmitted for a few hours that weekend and Dr Kim put his foot down. The women would not return to New Zealand on Monday as planned, but the following Sunday. He and the tourism officials were still adamant they had done the right thing by offering the women surgery. Dr Kim said: I am a doctor and I care about people. People who are in need of [care] shouldnt be limited for whatsoever reason. If medical tourism is an option, then we look forward to being able to help more patients. Lee Jaekyong, the tourism organisations marketing executive vice-president, said it had done all it could to mitigate the risks. If the women needed future care, it was willing to fly them back to South Korea, he said. For Lynda and Jasmin, there was no question over whether they should have gone. I cant say enough what a huge gift its been for me, Lynda said. Ive lived all my life being ashamed about the way I look. For me, this is just a chance to be normal. Lynda cried when she arrived at Wellington Airport yesterday to find Jono waiting for her. I knew it was going to happen but there were always these doubts that something would go wrong, so coming out this side is good amazing. Watch the video of Jasmin and Lyndas trip at dompost.co.nz.

Photos: KATE NEWTON

I am a doctor and I care about people. People who are in need of [care] shouldnt be limited for whatsoever reason.
LEAD SURGEON KIM YONGJIN

Only option: Whanganui woman Jasmin Sciascia, 26, at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul before her surgery.

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