Young orphan girl set to receive Christmas miracle

Victorian humanitarian Moira Kelly is on a new mission to give the gift of hearing to a 12-year-old orphan who was born without ears.

Papa was rescued from a Burmese orphanage by Sister Catherine Brabender and Ms Kelly, and is legally blind in one eye, while the 12-year-old's other eye is riddled with cataracts.

Last weekend, surgeons at Cabrini Hospital in Malvern carried out the first of a series of operations which will give Papa ears, and eventually, hearing.

"It's an incredibly rare condition and it's one of the hardest sorts of deformities we reconstruct in plastic surgery," Surgeon Andrew Greensmith said.

All medical staff are volunteering their time and skills to carry out the delicate surgery.

"It's always rewarding personally to be involved," Ms Kelly said.

"Papa is one of those kids that come into your life now and again and makes you think differently."