Voices reported last October on the plight of Ela Tanık, a local six-year-old girl, who was born with the very rare CHARGE syndrome, a disorder that affects many vital areas of the body, writes Glenn Maffia.

A window of opportunity arose for a crucial heart operation to be performed at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Naturally, this was met with great relief by the family, though the family’s insurance would not cover the accommodation and living expenses of Ela and her mother’s time in London. An appeal was started by a long-time resident of Didim, Seán Mac Conmara, to raise £5000 to cover such costs.

Now after many months away from home, Ela and her mother have finally returned to Turkey from the Netherlands where she was enduring yet more rounds of examinations and treatments.

For such a young child to shoulder such burdens speaks volumes for her bravery. Ela’s resolve shall be further tested as yet more medical appraisals in this country shall also be a required necessity.

Though on the plus side, at long last she is back at home, sleeping in her own room and thrilled to be reunited with her father. Long may this situation continue.

Her parents wish to reiterate with heartfelt thanks the heroic efforts of the community within Didim and Europewide which was so essential with making her heart surgery in London such a success.

This was achieved through the GoFundMe appeal, many other personal donations and a number of group events which were organized to raise the necessary monies.

Such generosity from so many kind-hearted people, many of whom have never met Ela, is truly humbling and breathes a faith in humanity which is so difficult to discern in the world we view today.