Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital invited Damir, a young burn patient from Mongolia who had severe burns and was struggling with local treatment, to South Korea for free surgery. After two months of treatment, Damir recovered and returned to Mongolia.

In 2023, when Damir was just 2 years old, he suffered a severe burn injury. While playing in the yard, Damir accidentally fell into a pot of boiling milk, resulting in serious third-degree scalds on his face, chest, and both arms. He was quickly taken to the emergency room at a nearby general hospital.

The treatment was difficult, but he was able to save his life because he was quickly hospitalized. Damir was admitted to the intensive care unit and underwent multiple skin graft surgeries. However, the skin around his thighs and mouth tightened as the wound healed, making it difficult for him to walk and eat. His fingers began to shrivel, and he experienced severe nighttime pain. Medical staff recommended transferring him to a specialized burn hospital for further treatment.

Damir's parents moved him to a specialized burn hospital in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, in order to be closer to him. They relocated near the hospital and his father changed jobs in order to be able to care for Damir. However, as their income decreased and the treatment period extended, their financial difficulties grew. Unfortunately, the limitations of medical technology and equipment led Damir's condition into not improving condition.

The unfortunate news about Damir's situation reached beyond Mongolia and spread to Korea. The Dongdaemun-gu Council of Seoul, which had been in communication with the Mongolian Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, was made aware of Damir's condition and requested that he receive treatment at Hangang Hospital. The hospital routinely assists with the invitation and treatment of foreign burn patients, and they decided to invite Damir for treatment. Full funding for his treatment was provided by the Hallym Burn Foundation, which had previously sponsored treatment costs.

Damir arrived in Korea and was immediately admitted to Hangang Hospital. Professor Jong Wook Lee of the Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery performed surgeries to graft skin onto Damir’s hands, wrists, and arms. The damaged skin on his fingers was removed and reattached, and the scarred skin on his face was similarly treated. The surgeries helped to ease the contractures around his mouth, allowing him to eat more comfortably. After two months of consistent rehabilitation, walking and standing became much easier.

Professor Lee mentioned, "I'm glad that Damir, who needed urgent surgery, was able to receive the necessary treatment in Korea. I hope he returns to Mongolia and grows up healthy."

Before Damir and his family returned to Mongolia, the Hallym Burn Foundation gave him customized pressure garments to treat his burn scars. These garments are worn to aid in the smooth recovery of the skin by providing the appropriate pressure to the affected areas. They can relieve itching and pain, prevent skin shrinking or swelling, and support the healing process.

The garments were made by ‘PGLab,’ a company specialized in pressure garments. ‘PGLab’ collaborated with Hangang Hospital's medical staff, Social Work Team, and employees who were burn patients before to create the garments. Professors of Rehabilitation Medicine and occupational therapists measured the patients' body sizes, and a production team of past burn patients handcrafted the garments. These custom-made clothes incorporate the personal experiences of the production team with burn recovery.

Damir's mother, Satigul, expressed with gratitude, "We were able to regain hope from the dedicated care of the medical staff in Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital. We thank them for giving us hope and strength."

by Hyuk Joo Lee, International Cooperation Team, HUMC (hyukjoolee@hallym.or.kr)