'Elephant Girl' gets new life

A teenage girl from Asia has been rescued from a life of torment by an air stewardess and brought to the UK for life-changing surgery. Pan, 16, only ever went out in public with her face covered, and villagers on her remote island in Laos called her Elephant Girl.

Now she is due to have surgery after Marianne Carsons worked for a year to bring her to London. A team of seven surgeons will carry out the nine-hour operation tomorrow.

Pan suffers from encephelocile, a condition that means her brain is coming down through a hole in her skull. Any severe blow to her face could prove fatal. The brain has pushed her eyes out of place, causing vision problems, and the top of her nose is missing.

In her home village, Pan - who is from a community that has no surnames - had little chance of a normal life because of her deformity. She could not marry and would never be able to work.

Mrs Carsons, who works for British Airways, was on holiday in Laos with her husband Chris last February when they spotted Pan. Mrs Carsons was upset that Pan immediately hid her face and vowed to do something for the teenager.

Once home, Mrs Carsons got in touch with charity Facing The World, which was set up by two plastic surgeons at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She then returned to Laos to organise medical examinations and x-rays, which would determine whether the surgeons could help. Mrs Carsons, from Chiswick, said: "It has taken a lot of work to get her here and people in Laos kept asking why we wanted to help her, she would still be poor and what was the point?

"It became my project - I was obsessed. I lost my little boy five years ago. He was stillborn and I felt like I was doing it for him."

Mrs Carsons organised passports and visas for Pan and her cousin Kap, 29, to come to Britain and BA laid on free flights. Mrs Carsons said: "I am nervous about the surgery. She has said she is frightened but she doesn't miss home."

Pan's doctor, consultant plastic surgeon Martin Kelly, and all the team will give their time for free tomorrow and the private Cromwell Hospital has given them reduced rates. Mr Kelly said: "These kids deserve the best anyone can give them."

Pan should have recovered enough to go home in November, where arrangements have been made for her after-care.

Mr Kelly set up the charity with Norman Waterhouse. It can be contacted via www.facingtheworld.net.