She's not a 'monster' any more: Girl, nine, called a witch by bullies recovers from surgery to remove growth that left half her face covered in hair

She's not a 'monster' any more: Girl, nine, called a witch by bullies recovers from surgery to remove growth that left half her face covered in hair

People called Bhawana Thami names like monster because of her disfigurement in her village in the Dolakha district in Nepal. But Bhawana has now undergone plastic surgery which her father hopes will help her to begin leading a normal life.


Bhawana Thami from Nepal suffers from a rare mole disease

Her protective father never allowed Bhawana to look at herself in a mirror
Charity helped to fund surgery needed to remove the hair

She now enjoys activities at school and playing with other children A father has described how his daughter was shunned by other children because she was born with a rare condition that left half of her face covered with hair. 

People called Bhawana Thami, who is now nine years old, names like 'monster' because of her disfigurement in her village in the Dolakha district, some 345km from Kathmandu, in Nepal.
The condition was the result of a rare mole disease which left untreated would have become cancerous. 

If that wasn't enough, the family suffered from the villagers' belief that a child with such an appearance must have been a witch and were therefore isolated from the community.

Getting her confidence back: Bhawana Thami poses for a photograph after most of the hair from her face was removed

Shunned: Bhawana Thami was called names like monster and witch because of her disfigurement

Her protective father Kaluman went so far as to never allow his daughter to look into a mirror but one day a journalist who took her photo and showed it to her causing the then eight-year-old disgust, fear and shock.
But Bhawana has now undergone plastic surgery which her father hopes will help her to begin leading a normal life. 

The first operation was carried out in Kathmandu with the support of charity Child Workers in Nepal last year.

Kaluman Thami and her daughter Bhawana looks on while talking to a journalist prior to his daughter's surgery operation in 2012

Courageous: Bhawana Thami lies on a stretcher at an operation room in Model Hospital, in Kathmandu, Nepal, in February this year

Plastic surgeons remove Bhawana's last piece of hair from her face during a surgery at Model Hospital, in Kathmandu this year

Loving father: Kaluman Thami comforts his daughter after a five hour operation to remove the hair from Bhawana's face

Mangali Thami, mother of Bhawana Thami, combs her daughter's hair before going to school at Dusikharka village, Dolakha district. She is now beginning to be accepted into her community

Close: Bhawana Thami (front centre) poses with her family members including her father next to their home

Hope: Kaluman Thami takes Bhawana Thami for a walk around Dusikharka village where they live

A year later she has had her second operation which completely removed the hair from her face.

However, she will have to have a third operation when she turns 14.

She has already returned to her village and been seen playing with other children.

Bhawana's appearance is changing every day since her operations took place and now she enjoys activities at school and local villagers have finally accepted her and her family into the community.