Andre arrives for life-saving treatment (From Surrey Comet)

Andre arrives for life-saving treatment

10:38am Sunday 18th March 2007

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After months of fundraising, visa negotiations and hospital visits, 14-year-old Andre Zarusneak from Moldova has finally arrived in the UK and cannot get the smile off his face.

In his most recent press call last week he bounded up to the photographer who had come to take his picture at Claremont Fan Court School in Esher, stuck out his hand and gabbled in his limited English: "Hi, I'm Andre, pleased to meet you."

Two years ago, Andre was electrocuted by a freak electricity surge as he walked past a power station in Drochia, Moldova, and was left with a hole in his skull but miraculously no brain damage.

Last week, Andre arrived in the UK to undergo the first of two life-saving operations to have a titanium plate fitted over the hole, made possible by money raised by the charity Christian Responsibility to Eastern Europe and readers of the Comet's sister paper, the Esher and Cobham Guardian.

Dr Jill Evans, from the Esher Green Surgery in More Lane who helped organise Andre's trip, said: "The operation went well. Andre is a little sore from the anaesthetic but will hopefully be back at school next week."

Unlike his mother Natasha, Andre does not appear nervous about the surgery. "I know all the nurses and doctors already so I've got nothing to be nervous about," he said confidently. "And anyway, God will look after me."

Andre, who turned 14 on Saturday, will be staying in the UK for three months for his treatment, during which time he and his 23-year-old translator Irina Burlacu are attending the exclusive Claremont Fan Court School on an entirely charitable basis. The school has even provided him with a new uniform and a new laptop, which he already will not let out of his sight.

To help him feel at home, Andre's geography teacher has made Moldova the country of the month.

Irina said: "It's great for me too because I'm learning new things again. Maths is Andre's favourite lesson but I like chemistry - we actually get to do our own experiments!"

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