[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 149 (Monday, November 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11312-S11313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO DR. MARCELO HOCHMAN OF CHARLESTON, SC, FOR HIS HUMANITARIAN 
                                EFFORTS

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, the headlines always are the 
Israelis and the Arabs at each other's throats, so it's noteworthy when 
a Jewish doctor treats a Muslim child--gratis. I know of the expertise 
of Dr. Marcelo Hochman and I know of his humanitarianism. He has been 
doing it for years. I ask unanimous consent that this article from the 
November 17th Charleston Post and Courier be printed in the Record.
  The article follows.

              Local Surgeon Helping Turkish Boy Face World

                         (By Allison L. Bruce)


    boy's family searches world for aid; find community of help in 
                               charleston

       For 4-year-old Batuhan Itku, a trip to Charleston marks a 
     new beginning.
       The Turkish boy was born with a birthmark covering more 
     than half of his face and causing severe disfigurement. He 
     couldn't shut his right eye and a cleft lip make eating 
     difficult.
       After more than 30 doctors told Batuhan's parents, Levent 
     and Ayla Itku, that they could not operate on Batuhan, Levent 
     Itku said he and a friend from work created a Web page to see 
     if other doctors elsewhere in the world could help.
       Doctors from Canada, Germany and the United States 
     responded to the site, but after Levent Itku sent medical 
     information to them, only Dr. Marcelo Hochman remained.
       Hochman is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and 
     a leading expert in treating hemangiomas. His practice is The 
     Facial Surgery Center in Charleston.
       He not only was willing to operate on Batuhan but also 
     agreed to donate his services.
       Levent Itku said he and his wife ``couldn't believe what 
     they heard . . . until the moment they came here and saw him 
     (Hochman),'' according to interpreter Yesim Otay. ``At the 
     beginning, they didn't have any hope. They thought it would 
     be the same thing they heard before,'' Otay said, translating 
     for Itku. Now, she said, ``they have a great hope.''
       Batuhan's vascular birthmark is called a hemangioma, a 
     condition that Hochman said affects about 10 percent of the 
     population. They range from a pinpoint to large, severe 
     deformations that usually affect the face, head and neck.
       About 30 percent of hemangiomas require medical attention, 
     Hochman said.
       Common names for some forms of the birthmark include a 
     portwine stain or strawberry.
       For Batuhan, the hemangioma is severe and will require more 
     than one operation.
       ``Had we seen him early on with aggressive medical 
     treatment and laser treatment, perhaps he could have 
     avoided this horrific disfigurement,'' Hochman said.
       Hochman said doctors often tell families not to treat the 
     condition.
       ``The prevailing advice parents get is to leave it alone, 
     it will go away.'' he said. While that may be the right 
     advice for some patients, Hochman said, he often sees 
     children and adults who have been waiting for years for it to 
     go away.
       ``What we're trying to do is change the way the primary 
     care physicians see these lesions,'' he said. ``There is hope 
     for treatment. It is very common and lots of things can be 
     done.''
       The Itkus are staying at the Ronald McDonald House downtown 
     as Batuhan recovers from his first surgery. His stitches come 
     out Monday.
       Levent Itku said Batuhan is aware of everything Hochman 
     did. After the surgery, he woke up one morning and patted his 
     face, saying ``Dr. Hochman did this to my face.''
       ``He has a chance in his future life,'' Levent Itku said.
       At the Ronald McDonald House, Batuhan--a bright, cheerful 
     child--plays with a bag of toys and books. He finds a plastic 
     drill, which he proceeds to use while making drill-like 
     sounds on every piece of furniture available. He grins and 
     laughs as his parents and others join in making the sounds 
     with him.
       He waves at people he knows at the house and constantly 
     talks with his parents and guests.
       His face shows signs of the first surgery. Hochman created 
     an eye lid for Batuhan so he can close his eye for the first 
     time. The cleft lip is also repaired so that he can eat 
     better.
       Batuhan's trip to Charleston for the surgery took a lot of 
     coordination. Aside from Hochman donating his services, St 
     Francis Hospital and local business owners also contributed. 
     Patricia Dwight arranged for Batuhan and his family to get 
     to the United States by collecting frequent flier miles 
     donations. Dwight owns Adventure Travel and has lived in 
     Turkey. After hearing about Batuhan's case, she made a 
     point to visit the Itkus while she was visiting Istanbul.
       ``After meeting the family and seeing what incredible 
     people the mother and father were, I was more inspired to 
     help,'' she said. ``They're dealing with it in such a 
     remarkable way. Without them being the way they are, this 
     would not have happened either.''
       On the Internet, she found out about a United Way program 
     that uses frequent flier miles to provide transportation. 
     With the help of several local donations, including a large 
     donation of miles from Henry Cheves Jr., Dwight was able to 
     bring the Itkus to the United States.
       She also is leading the effort to create The Hemangioma 
     Treatment Foundation. The foundation would help provide 
     treatment of children and adults with vascular birthmarks and 
     training for doctors in other companies.
       Dwight said Batuhan's case was the catalyst for creating 
     the foundation, which is currently under Trident United Way 
     until it receives non-profit status.
       A large part of Hochman's efforts in the last decade has 
     been to educate other doctors about treating hemangiomas.
       During the past 12 years, Hochman has traveled to other 
     countries to operate on children with hemangiomas. He has 
     traveled to Russia, Latin America and Mexico repeatedly.
       Aside from demonstrating for doctors in other countries how 
     the surgeries can be done, Hochman has edited a textbook on 
     hemangiomas and hopes that more doctors in the United States 
     also will explore the different kinds of treatment available.
       He said he receives thousands of e-mails each year. Many of 
     those come from overseas.

[[Page S11313]]

       Two Costa Rican girls are coming to Hochman for treatment 
     for hemangiomas this week.
       Another 35 children in Costa Rica are waiting for 
     treatment, as well as more children in Turkey.
       Levent Itku said he wanted to thank all of the people who 
     had helped his family, including Hochman, Dwight, the Ronald 
     McDonald House and the Turkish community in Charleston, 
     including Otay and Carol Arkok, who also helped with 
     translation and took the family to dinner and shopping.
       Dwight said at a time when Muslims and Jews are often in 
     conflict, ``here we have a marvelous example of interfaith 
     cooperation . . . We have a marvelous man of one faith 
     helping this needy child of another faith.''
       Hochman said that had never crossed his mind.
       ``I didn't even think about it until Patricia said, `Isn't 
     it wonderful that a Jewish doctor is treating a Muslim child? 
     ''' he said. ``These people need help, and if we have the 
     expertise, it's a privilege to help take care of them.''
       ``These families endure so much. It feels good to be able 
     to change that.''

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