A team of Australian neurosurgeons is preparing for a landmark operation in Adelaide — a marathon, high-risk procedure they hope will save the life of Moonta teenager Lucy Hancocks.
Teenager's Long Medical Journey
At just 17, Lucy has spent more time in hospital than most people will in a lifetime. "I've been through a lot… it's very hard mentally and physically," she told 7NEWS.
Lucy was born with Parry Romberg Syndrome, a rare autoimmune condition that causes tissue and muscle on one side of the face to waste away. She has undergone more than 100 procedures, including nine major surgeries in the United States after 7NEWS first met her on Today Tonight in 2012.
Life-Saving Operation Ahead
But her next operation won't just be reconstructive — it will be life-saving. Lucy has developed three brain aneurysms, one of which has become a ticking time bomb. "She's at risk of a stroke… she's at risk of a lot of things," her mother Jodie said. "It is a last-resort surgery."
The groundbreaking procedure will take place at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital with the Hancocks family now waiting for confirmation on the date. Adelaide neurosurgeon Alistair Jukes will lead the six-hour operation alongside two leading brain specialists from NSW.
Risks and Hope
The risk that comes with the operation is something Lucy admits she thinks about — it is her biggest worry. "Probably something going wrong," Lucy said. "It could rupture at any point."
She knows the risks but has faith about being in the hands of some of Australia's top surgeons. The Hancocks family said they hope this surgery will be the one that will give her the future the Adelaide teenager deserves. "Lucy's done an amazing job. Half the time you wouldn't even know… she just gets on with life," Jodie said.
