Dr Charlie Teo saved my life: Miracle patient jumps to the maverick surgeon's ... trends now One of Dr Charlie Teo's miracle patients has jumped to the brain surgeon's defence as he faces a medical disciplinary hearing about two surgeries he performed that left two patients with catastrophic brain injuries. A Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) inquiry is investigating the circumstances surrounding the operations, including concerns patients were offered false hope regarding their chance of survival. But Monica Lopresti, 24, says the idea of Dr Teo being cold, calculating, reckless and money hungry does not resemble her encounters with the surgeon, and credits the maverick for saving her life. 'We were told by other neurosurgeons that they could not help me. But Dr Teo gave my family and me a chance at life that nobody else could give me.' In July 2021, she was diagnosed with a benign cystic brain tumour which, because of its location, was likely to lead to brain damage or death. Surgeons told her that the tumour would be inoperable in Australia. Young brain tumour survivor Monica Lopresti has revealed the heartbreaking reason she is determined to support maverick 'last chance' surgeon Dr Charlie Teo despite troubling allegations against him Sadly Monica Lopresti's dad Andrew was too sick to seek out the brilliant but controversial surgeon's help by the time the family knew he was an option (Pictured, Christina, Andrew and Monica Lopresti) 'By the time the neurosurgeons my mum had contacted - seven of them - told me they couldn't operate, I was already losing my eyesight.' The family contacted Dr Teo, who agreed to operate for an undisclosed fee - but in Spain, as he isn't permitted to work here. 'I've heard the claims that Dr Teo demands $50,000 before a surgery. 'That never happened in our situation. He never even mentioned money in any consultation. 'Of course, nothing is for free in life, but this idea that Dr Teo gets a chunk of the money is just false. 'They can't take someone into hospitals before making payment, so we did make payment prior to surgery. We don't want to talk about the specifics of what it cost our family, other than to say it was worth it. 'People pay thousands of dollars for cosmetic surgery and cars and no one questions that. When a patient spends thousands on life-saving surgery - how can you put a price on it? 'But the money wasn't important to Dr Teo, what was important to him was that we knew the risks of the surgery.' The operation was completed in August 2022, and the surgery was successful giving Ms Lopresti has been given a second chance at life. 'After my surgery was done, I had quite a few surgeons and nurses approach my mum and I, commenting on how they have never seen such delicate and neat work. 'Dr Teo needed access to the middle of my brain and did that with minimal stitches and a scar that was very neat. 'It just goes to show how he thinks outside the box constantly and is always thinking of the patient. 'It's a scar that I am incredibly proud to have and shows the incredible work of what he does.' She is able to enjoy the same activities as any other normal young person. 'My weekends look like coffee and walks with friends, or movie nights, and like anyone, I spend my days at the beach and love swimming at Bondi beach. 'I live a pretty normal life, and I have Dr Teo to thank for that. I am convinced he was born to save lives. Ms Lopresti told Daily Mail Australia that she believes anyone with a potentially life-threatening condition who wants to choose a radical approach should have that opportunity. 'Will future doctors and scientists not be innovative because they are afraid of being shunned by their peers?' Ms Lopresti asked. 'It's hard to understand why patients are being denied the right to choose their surgeon.' 'If it's for your life, or the life of your child, what would you do?' Two months after being diagnosed with a benign but life-threatening tumour in mid 2022 Ms Lopresti was having surgery performed by Charlie Teo in Spain Ms Lopresti's own father died of a brain tumour in 2014, but was too sick to seek out Dr Teo's help by the time the family knew he was an option. He died in 2014, two months short of his 46th birthday, after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive type of brain cancer, only ten months earlier. 'Where my dad's tumour was, it took everything away from him,' Ms Lopresti said. 'He had surgery and six months of chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments caused my dad to gain over 40 kilograms. He was not allowed to work, drive or be unsupervised.' Six months into the treatment, doctors discovered his tumour had grown and explained to the family that it was time to 'make memories' and keep Mr Lopresti comfortable. 'Our family asked my dad if he wanted to seek another opinion, which would be to enquire about seeing Dr Teo, but he was tired, and his wish was just to spend what time he had left with us.' Today she believes anyone who wants to choose the controversial surgeon should be allowed to. 'I think it should always be up to the individual person and that the decision should ultimately always be theirs.' Ms Lopresti said she isn't 'hurt or angry' that her father didn't have the energy to pursue Dr Teo's services. A relieved Ms Lopresti several days after Dr Teo performed brain surgery on her in a Madrid hospital Andrew Lopresti (pictured above with Monica) died in 2014, two months short of his 46th birthday, after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive type of brain cancer, only 10 months earlier Ms Lopresti believes no matter how risky Dr Teo's methods are perceived to be, people with brain tumours should have the right to choose whether or not to have surgery with him Monica was told a tumour blocking the flow of brain fluid in her brain (the scan at right) could give her brain damage or kill her. By the time she was told by seven neurosurgeons nothing could be done she was already losing her sight 'It was really hard seeing my dad fight this horrible disease and in the end my only wish was for him to be out of pain. 'I miss him, and he will always be a part of my life, but I couldn't be more supportive of the decision that he made, because it is what he wanted, and I will always respect that and will always be proud of how courageous he was during his ten months of battling this disease.' Dr Teo is set to appear before the HCCC hearing again this month. 'The Dr Teo me and my family know is humble, down-to-earth, empathetic, and sweet - a man who listened far more than most doctors I've come across. 'When I met Dr Charlie Teo, we walked into his room, and I felt like for the first time I was being heard. 'He had a lot of knowledge. He recognised all of my symptoms. He made me feel human. 'All the benefits and risks of surgery were properly explained to me by Dr Teo, and I was able to make an informed choice.' Ms Lopresti joined the Charlie Teo Foundation's brain cancer fundraising campaign last month, announcing her involvement in an emotional Facebook post. 'I am scared for the future that someone will be diagnosed with a brain tumour and might be left to die,' she wrote regarding the restrictions placed on Dr Teo in late 2021. Monica Lopresti with her mum Christina, who was refused by seven Australian neurosurgeons before Dr Teo said he could operate Monica Lopresti wonders if Australia's doctors and scientists will avoid innovation because they are afraid of being shunned by their peers Strict conditions were placed on Dr Teo by the NSW Medical Council after concerns from his peers that his methods were a risk to the public. He was banned from performing high-risk surgeries in Australia without written approval from a second independent neurosurgeon, forcing him to work overseas. Dr Teo is now operating in South Africa and Spain. 'Dr Charlie Teo is a true pioneer with a lot of heart, and one of the only doctors out there raising millions of dollars for brain cancer research.' Ms Lopresti plans to raise money by walking every day 'in memory of my dad' until the end of May and will even be joined by Dr Teo on a walk. How Charlie Teo saved me: One of the controversial doctor's brain surgery patients MONICA LOPRESTI opens up about her life-changing experience with Australia's most divisive surgeon BY MONICA LOPRESTI FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA The idea of Dr Charlie Teo as cold or calculating, or reckless, or waiting for money before agreeing to do surgery is as confusing as it is shocking to me. It doesn't remotely resemble the person I came to know through one of the most frightening times of my life. I was 23 and thought I was the perfect picture of health. I had a great social life, worked full time and walked 10,000 steps each day. That all changed in July 2021. I became a person that nobody recognised - bed-ridden, pale, withdrawn. I had blackouts. An MRI scan revealed a benign cystic tumour in the middle of my brain. While the tumour was benign, its location was blocking normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We were devastated when we were told the pressure caused by too much CSF stops the brain from functioning properly and can result in brain damage and death. By the time the neurosurgeons my mum had contacted - seven of them - told me they couldn't operate I was already losing my eyesight. My father had died from brain cancer eight years earlier. I was extremely scared. So who is Charlie Teo really? I can only describe him from my own experiences and I stand by those. Let's get those horrible stories about money out of the way first. I've heard the claims that Dr Teo demands $50,000 before a surgery. That never happened in our situation. He never even mentioned money in any consultation. Of course nothing is for free in life but this idea that Dr Teo gets a chunk of the money is just false. They can't take someone into hospitals before making payment, so we did make payment prior to surgery. We don't want to talk about the specifics of what it cost our family, other than to say it was worth it. People pay thousands of dollars for cosmetic surgery and cars and no one questions that. When a patient spends thousands on life-saving surgery - how can you put a price on it? But the money wasn’t important to Dr Teo, what was important to him was that we knew the risks of the surgery. When you are going through a storm in life you want to meet someone who can guide you through, give you clear and honest information. It's even better if they are kind. That is the Dr Teo my family knows. But it's not the only thing that made him special to us, he also has a beautiful personality. He was humble, down-to-earth, empathetic and sweet - a man who listened far more than most doctors I've come across. For the 10 months before I had my surgery, I was at medical centres week after week trying to get some answers on my debilitating symptoms - but was treated like a number, not a person. People would listen to me for about a minute before dismissing what I had to say or coming up with an answer. It was like no-one cared. But when I met Dr Teo, I walked into his room and I felt like for the first time I was being heard. He had a lot of knowledge, he recognised all of my symptoms, he made me feel human. When we were in Madrid before the surgery we had a very bad night. We had lost my father to brain cancer eight years ago and his wish had been to cease treatment. So emotions were running high. Dr Teo had made it clear to us he was one call away. My mum, Christina, messaged him at 2am and within 15 minutes he was Facetiming me. I sat there and cried and he just listened to me vent. I treated him like a therapist. And he listened to all of it. That's when he became like family to us. He was also straightforward about the risks. He is not a man that trades in false hope as I've heard. On the day of the surgery, he was there before, during and after and that was an amazing comfort. We had a pre-op appointment in which we went through everything again and met with some of his team. After the surgery he waited in my room while I was in recovery and surprised my mum. He hugged her and told her how amazing I did. How often does that happen? My surgery was done on time and I was told that when I wake up my vision would be weird for a bit which is normal after brain surgery. When I woke up the majority of my symptoms had left and within four days I was out of hospital and exploring Madrid. I got lucky - but it's important to note it's not just me that has a kind opinion of Dr Teo. The most common thing you hear from his patients is about his kind and caring nature. Look at the photos of him with patients. In every photo he's got his arm around them, he's smiling. This sense of him being cold, or egotistical, I don’t understand where it comes from. To me it seems crazy to say someone is cold when you haven't met them. Today I am healthy but still in recovery. I'm working full-time in insurance as a claims assessor in Sydney. My weekends look like coffee and walks with friends, or movie nights and like anyone, I spend my days at the beach and love swimming at Bondi. I live a pretty normal life and I have Dr Teo to thank for that, I am convinced he was born to save lives. I am forever grateful to him and because of that I will be forever in his corner. If I am scared at all for the future, it is a fear that someone may be diagnosed with a tumour that is high risk and might be left to die because of that risk. Will future surgeons not be innovative because they are afraid of being shunned by their peers? It's hard to understand why patients are being denied the right to choose their surgeon. If it's for your life, or the life of your child, what would you do? This is the choice many families have faced and most of them have not regretted choosing Dr Teo. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility