A Serbian girl who was born without lips or a chin has flown to London for pioneering treatment to rebuild her face.
Darina Shpengler has never officially been diagnosed but is thought to have a rare condition called Nager syndrome.
As soon as she was born, doctors reportedly recommended her mother Elena Shpengler, 47, 'abandon' her baby to become an orphan.
Refusing to give up on her child, Mrs Shpengler and her husband Yury, 49, were even forced to leave the remote village they called home when their family cruelly rejected Darina.
With Russian medics being unable to help, the six-year-old is due to have life-changing surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital today.
Mrs Shpengler hopes the procedure will allow her daughter to eat and gain weight, with the youngster currently weighing the same as a one-year-old.
But most of all, the mother hopes the surgery will give her a mute daughter a voice, which she says will be the 'best harmony'.
Darina Shpengler was born without lips or a chin in what is thought to be a rare condition called Nager syndrome. The six-year-old is pictured at an airport in her native Serbia preparing to fly to London for pioneering surgery to rebuild her face at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Darina, who weighs the same as a one-year-old, is pictured left with her mother Elena Shpengler. Surgeon Professor Dunaway will oversee her treatment (pictured together right)
Speaking of her daughter's upcoming operation, Mrs Shpengler told The Siberian Times: 'My every thought and hope is for the surgery to go well, because it would mean Darina would be able to eat and she'll start gaining weight.
'She will start breathing better and hopefully will grow up, and won't get sick as often as she does now.
'She will start playing with other children because they won't be scared of her.'
But most of all, Mrs Shpengler, who lives with her family in the Krasnoyarsk region, is excited to hear Darina talk.
'I cannot say how much I am waiting to hear her voice, to hear her saying "mama",' she said.
'This will be the best melody in the world, to hear her speak.'
Although excited for her daughter's surgery, Mrs Shpengler also has some reservations.
She said yesterday: 'Like any mother of a child with such a long illness history I am nervous of what tomorrow brings.
'But also I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us get this far.'
Darina is being cared for by Professor David Dunaway, who is head of the craniofacial unit at Great Ormond Street.
The youngster's treatment is expected to cost £67,400 ($85,390) and is being funded by the Russian-based charity Rusfond.
Despite feeling apprehensive, Mrs Shpengler, who cares for Darina full time, is determined to stay positive.
'I never thought it would be possible to see an expert of the level of Professor Dunaway and I firmly believe in the surgery's success,' she said.
'We need all our powers to help Darina. We need to raise and support her, she has a lot to overcome.'
Darina (pictured at the airport) bleeds from the mouth 'constantly' and struggles to eat, which makes it difficult for her to put on weight. She is also unable to speak. Her mother hopes the surgery will give the youngster a voice, which she says will be the 'best harmony'
Mrs Shpengler (pictured with Darina at the airport) claims doctors initially told her to 'forget' her daughter and let her become an orphan. Refusing to give up on her baby, Mrs Shpengler took Darina home, only to be shunned by nearly all of their family, who refused to accept her
Darina (pictured with her older brother Alexei) is loved by her siblings but faces cruel stares from strangers who point and even ask her parents to put a mask over her face
Darina (pictured with Alexei) is unable to speak but is still aware of how people react to her
Nager syndrome is a congenital condition that affects the bones and tissues in the face.
More than 100 cases have been reported, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Nager syndrome is thought to occur due to problems early in pregnancy when the cheekbones, eye sockets and jaw are developing.
This causes the characteristics sloping eyes and small jaw.
Some patients also have affected arms, hands, legs and feet.
And their ears may be missing or very small.
Doctors suspect Nager syndrome is a genetic disorder that is caused by a mutation on a specific gene.
However, this gene has not been identified.
If the jaw is severely underdeveloped, breathing and
