5-year-old boy with rare disorder gets life-changing surgery on Long Island

2,917 views · Published 11 April 2018 · 1:43 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: Eyewitness News ABC7NY · 2018 · News & Politics

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Rokas Zalage was born with facial deformities that made some of the simplest functions -- like breathing, eating and talking -- difficult. But the young boy from Lithuania is doing all those things much easier now, thanks to a life-changing surgery in New York.

"This surgery helped him breathe, to help him get a good nights sleep, which was impossible before," mom Ruta Zalage said.

Rokas suffers from Goldenhar syndrome, born missing most of the right side of his face. It is very similar to the condition depicted in the recent film "Wonder."

Darla Miles has more: https://7ny.tv/2GR56sI

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