An image of a young mother smiling as she holds her toddler on her hip. Next to this is a photograph depicting indescribable pain.

After being caught in a fire, Hong Hanh was so badly burned she became trapped inside her own body. Her arms were fused to her torso, her legs were fused to her midriff and her chin was fused to her chest. Her eyes couldn't close, her mouth couldn't open properly and her hands were melted into tight knots.

Many people may look at this woman burnt to 85 percent of her body and think she didn't have much life left, or much to live for in any case. They may surmise that the pain of being alive was worse than the peace of death. But the people Hanh met saw life in her and collectively freed her to live a life that today inspires many.

Unable to clothe, feed or even go to the toilet without assistance, Hanh was being cared for by nuns in a convent in Pleiku, Central Vietnam, when a visiting Australian couple met her.

Nhoung Tran and Hanh Tran had come from Adelaide to visit Nhoung's sister, Marie Therese, who was a nun at the convent. She introduced them to Hanh.

At that stage, Hanh was in despair. The nuns cared deeply for Hanh, but the facilities at the convent were very basic, and there was not adequate medical support to treat her in a way that improved her quality of life. Her nutrition had to be supplied in liquid form that could be drunk through a straw.

She had been living in great pain at the convent for three and a half years and had told Sister Marie that she wanted to die in her sleep. Sister Marie encouraged Hanh to offer her suffering to God, to pray for herself and for others in pain. She also instinctively told her that she had a brother living in Australia who may one day be able to help her.

The night after Nhoung and his wife met Hanh, they couldn't sleep. The image of pus and blood seeping from Hanh's sores as she lay on a single bed under a mosquito net was one they couldn't get out of their heads. They stayed up all night, crying, and by the morning had resolved they would help her in any way they could. Nhoung and Hanh Tran took photographs and gathered the medical information available about Hanh's constitution and likelihood to survive plastic surgery procedures - then returned to Australia on a mission.

Back in Adelaide, they placed advertisements in the Vietnamese language newspapers, appealing for donations to help Hanh. Then they sent details to Nhoung's nephew, Dr Cuong Tran, who was living in Melbourne and had experience with overseas relief surgery. He presented the information to Dr Theong Low, Vice President of the Australian Chinese Medical Association (Victoria) (ACMAV).

Dr Low immediately sent the photos to his friend, Geelong-based plastic surgeon Dr Ian Holten, whom he described as ‘the only person I knew who wouldn't say no'.

It was the worst burns case Dr Holten had seen and, true to form, agreed to do whatever he could to help. Medical treatment visas were arranged through the ACMAV Foundation, and community support to house and take care of Hanh on arrival was gathered by the Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, OAM, President of the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Victoria.

Hanh flew here alone in August 2006, her first time outside of Vietnam. She weighed just 40kg on arrival and had terrible infections on her skin. She spent the first three months resting and building her strength while being cared for by her new Australian friends. Hanh was ready for her first plastic surgery procedure on November 17, 2006, and her last was carried out on September 13, 2008.

Over that time more than 50 surgical procedures were performed involving over 120 hours in theatre, all undertaken on a volunteer basis by teams of surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and support staff at the St John of God Hospital in Geelong. In addition, there have been countless hours of after-surgery care. Dr Holten jokes that he has probably done more operations on Hanh alone than if he added up the total number of procedures he has ever performed. There are three folders full of operation notes dedicated to Hanh.

There have been countless challenges in every operation. In the first operation, Hanh's throat had to be cut open while she was semi-conscious - under twilight sedation. Airways have been an issue, especially when she first arrived and couldn't open her mouth properly. In one of the many challenging operations, a spontaneous tracheotomy had to be performed. Cutting through 1cm of keloid scarring formed after the many procedures and avoiding an artery, which would lose an arm. Injections needed to be given to shrink the blood vessels and help minimise blood loss in each operation.

In the last procedure, the anaesthetist, Dr Eoin Fehsenfeld, struggled to find a vein under the multiple-grafted skin. He eventually found one exposed near her temple.

Each procedure has been a miracle in itself, and the journey has required immense courage from all involved. The surgery results have restored basic human dignity to Hanh. From a person who required constant care for every aspect of daily living, Hanh now has a measure of independence restored. More than that, she has been filled with love from so many people who have cared for her that this has restored her will to live.

Estimates of the total cost of this liberating surgery range from $300,000 to $400,000. Some people question the value of this being spent on one life, when there are so many people in need. Dr Holten quietly counters: "What is the value of a human life?"

Each time Hanh was operated on it was very painful, but with each small improvement there was renewed hope. For Hanh, the most exciting feeling was when her hand was freed from her body. In the last procedure, Hanh's arms were given further mobility (so now she can wash her hair unaided), and some delicate hand surgery has restored some dexterity so that picking up a pen or a fork is now possible.

Through the St John of God hospital, Hanh has enjoyed the benefits of music therapy, including playing the harp. She has started speaking English, made many friends, and plans to set up a bookshop after she returns to Vietnam in late September. (She already had business management qualifications from her studies back home.)

More than anything, Hanh can't wait to see her son, Nyut. When her son was just three years old, he helped care for her deformed body. It was the sound of her son's footsteps that kept her alive in the traumatic weeks after the fire that nearly took her life. And now, when Hanh returns, she will be able to put her arms around him again.

Anyone who meets with Hanh can't help but be inspired. This is a woman who has stared death in the face and her life is a victory. She approaches each day with a deep sense of appreciation. She describes Australia as ‘heaven on earth', and the doctors and nurses who have cared for her are like angels. Hanh has certainly made many good friends here.

The highly skilled plastic surgery procedures performed by Ian Holten and his team at the St John of God Hospital in Geelong have saved Hanh's life. The extent of surgery provided for Hanh on a volunteer basis, the number of people who have opened their homes, pockets and hearts for Hanh all restore faith in humanity. These people have connected with something good in their hearts and, in the process, revived Hanh's soul... and possibly their own as well.

To donate money to the ACMAV to fund more humanitarian work, please call 03 9899 6380.

Supported by Advanced Surgical Technologies (ASTOZ), Hanh had three Fraxel treatments on her face, and two on her neck.

President of the ACMAV and dermatologist Dr Adrian Mar performed these treatments. He says: ‘Hanh has been incredibly stoic - she tolerated Fraxel treatment well. There has been a noticeable improvement in her scar texture. In up to ten treatments we would expect to see even more improvement. We are very excited that ASTOZ has agreed to source a Fraxel practitioner in Vietnam to carry on treatment for Hanh.'

ACSM #43