When Illness Becomes Strength: A Young Woman’s Journey Toward OMFS
- Maysaa Abbas Fadil
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
Article from Iran
My name is Maysaa Abbas Fadil, a fifth-year dental student at the University of Babylon, College of Dentistry in Iraq. I am also a student member at each of European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery (EACMFS), AO Foundation CMF Asian Chapter, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd).
My journey toward Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery began with a dream—but it was shaped by a battle.
During my teenage years, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease that brought profound physical and emotional challenges. At an age when most young people are planning their futures, I was navigating hospital corridors, receiving high-dose steroids, biological therapies, and intensive medical treatments.
Yet within those difficult moments, something unexpected happened: my dream became stronger.
Despite the illness, I graduated from high school with a score of 98.83% on my first attempt, and entered dental school determined to pursue a future in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Throughout my years in dental school, the disease did not disappear. At times its complications grew more demanding. But so did my determination. I learned to balance lectures, examinations, and clinical training with hospital visits and medical treatments. On many occasions, my textbooks traveled with me to the hospital, turning treatment hours into study sessions.
In those moments, the hospital was not only a place of treatment—it became a place where resilience was built.
My academic commitment and passion for OMFS led my university dean and professors to nominate me for international surgical communities. I was honored to be accepted as a student member of EACMFS, AO Foundation CMF, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
These opportunities have allowed me to continue learning, attending lectures, exploring research, and engaging with the global OMFS community while still completing my undergraduate dental training.
My treating physician, a professor of immunology and rheumatology, once described me as “a fierce fighter.” After observing both my medical journey and academic dedication, he told me that the strength I developed through illness may one day become my greatest strength as a surgeon.
My journey is still unfolding, but every challenge I faced has strengthened my commitment to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
I believe that my experience has given me a unique perspective: I understand the vulnerability of patients, the uncertainty of illness, and the power of hope.
One day, as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, I hope not only to treat disease but also to inspire courage in my patients—especially young individuals facing difficult diagnoses at an early age.
Because sometimes, the strongest surgeons are those who first learned how to fight for their own lives.
