Help put a smile on Amanda's face

Eight-year-old Amanda Attard hugs her friends instead of smiling at them. Although she very much wishes to smile, she just can't.

Smiling is not the only thing Amanda cannot do. Born with Moebius Syndrome, the young girl's facial nerves are paralysed, leaving her with an expressionless face and making it difficult for her to eat and talk.

Moebius Syndrome affects one person in two million and Amanda is the only Maltese person suffering from this condition.

However, there is hope for Amanda, because Toronto-based facial paralysis expert Ronald Zuker has ruled her as a perfect candidate for a complicated operation.

Amanda's mother, Karen Attard - a professional soprano known as Karen Camilleri - explained that the operation consists of transplanting a muscle from Amanda's thigh to her face, linking it with her biting nerve, which works, thus giving new life to her cheeks.

But the operation comes at a high cost - Amanda's parents are trying to raise Lm40,000 to foot the bill. Since Malta does not have a health agreement with Canada, the operation has to be paid for by the parents. Mrs Attard said the state covers other medical expenses, including operations that her daughter needs to undergo in the United Kingdom.

Mrs Attard spoke highly of Dr Zuker, who invented the procedure himself after he developed an interest in people with facial paralysis.

"We want the best for our daughter, and he is the best," she stressed.

She explained that Amanda's surgery would have to be divided into two parts - one side of her face would be worked upon first, then the other. The Attards have met Dr Zuker twice and Mrs Attard said the surgeon ruled her daughter as a good contender for the operation.

"She will have to go through two operations of nine hours each. We will have to go to Canada twice in the space of four months," she said.

But all difficulties fade before the promise of the operation - enabling Amanda to smile and allowing her to eat and talk with greater ease.

Although Amanda is a happy eight-year-old, and the condition has not affected her brain and intelligence, her parents believe that the operation would improve her quality of life.

"We accept her and love her as she is, but she has already met people who hurt her. She might have difficulties later on in life, even to find a job," Mrs Attard said.

Asked how she gets along with her friends, Mrs Attard said Amanda is very sociable and is able to adapt herself.

"She uses a lot of body gestures to make up for the fact that she cannot show her feelings through facial expressions. She will hug her friends since she cannot smile to them. She's very loving, and everyone loves her," she said.

Raising Lm40,000 for the operation is not easy and the Attards need help to give their daughter the smile she craves to give. The Association of Lyceum Past Students and the Friends of the Manoel Theatre have joined forces to raise funds for Amanda.

In fact, the two are organising a fund-raising activity at the Coastline Hotel on Friday at 8 p.m. The one-hour concert of classical popular music will be followed by a barbecue at the Coastline Suite. Apart from Amanda's mother, participants include Andrew Sapiano, Claire Caruana, Connie Frances Zerafa, Charles Vincenti, Kevin Caruana, Louisella Pace Gouder and Joe Fenech. They will be accompanied by pianist Cynthia Genovese.

Tickets for the concert are available at Lm10 per head from United Travel in Bisazza Street, Sliema (2133 7251, 2141 0400) Studio Moda in Naxxar Road, San Gwann (2138 6812, 2137 6387), Godfrey Muscat (2144 0256), Alfred G. Formosa (2138 3486) and Joe Fenech (2141 0632).

Donations may be made to HSBC Amanda Help Me To Smile Fund number 075039560050.