Community Corner

Surgeries Begin for Disfigured Blast Victim

A Lake Forest nonprofit is helping an African man gain a new look on life.

The first in a series of surgeries on a Zimbabwe man disfigured by an explosion was completed in 15 hours on Saturday, sponsored by Lake Forest-based Operation of Hope.

Blessing Makwera was 15 years old five years ago when he put placed an unfamiliar object into his mouth, which turned out to be a land mine detonator. It went off, blasting away much of his mouth and teeth, leaving him disfigured.

Operation of Hope has been working with Sharp Memorial Hospital to bring Makwera to San Diego from Africa for surgeries to rebuild his face.

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