Today a special 9-year old Congolese boy has something to smile about.

Nearly three years ago, Dunia Sibomana was playing with his brother and cousin near Virunga National Park when they were attacked by a group of chimpanzees. Dunia was left severely disfigured; his upper and lower lips were torn off, he lost a finger and part of an ear, and had extensive damage along the right side of his cheek.

His appearance left him as a social outsider in his village — his friends distanced themselves from him, children at school teased him, and adults ignored him.

Dunia Sibomana was severely mauled by chimpanzees near the Virunga National Park in the Congo. Reconstructive surgeries through Stony Brook Children’s Hospital have given him the chance to talk, swallow and smile again.

Rangers from the park connected Dunia with Stony Brook Children’s Hospital through renowned anthropologist Richard Leakey, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Turkana Basin Institute at Stony Brook University.

Dr. Leakey’s friend, Dr. Alexander Dagum, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Stony Brook conferred with Dr. Leon Klempner, associate professor of dentistry at the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine and the founder of the non-profit organization Smile Rescue Fund for Kids.

Over the past year, thanks to the efforts of these doctors, the Smile Rescue Fund, and many others, including an incredible host family, Dunia has been able to undergo several rare facial reconstruction procedures at Stony Brook Children’s while living in the area. While he is beginning to regain function and is recovering well, Dunia still requires additional surgeries and will continue to live in the U.S. for the time being.

Learn more about the Smile Rescue Fund for Kids: http://smilerescuefund.org/about-us/