NOT many people have fairy godmothers or genies in bottles.

Kitchen assistant Hassan never thought he had, but it turns out that he did... the bottles were in a pub (where else?) called The Backyard, located in Taman Sri Hartamas, and the genies were its patrons.

Never in his wildest dreams did Hassan think he could live again the life he had before neuro fibromatosis hit him at the age of 18.

Now 38, he's thankful that the Backyard patrons have raised enough money for him to undergo plastic surgery to remove the unsightly lumps he has all over his face and neck.

At 18, he was a handsome man who thought he had life all figured out, but it all changed when lumps started growing all over his neck and face.

But, as his regular patrons would readily attest, the condition hasn't diminished his zest for life, his eagerness to work and his smile.

Hassan works at the Backyard, cooking, cleaning, setting up the sound system and even helping with the electrical maintenance.

He is multi-talented, good with his hands and fast at learning new things. He might not speak polished English or Malay, but his smile speaks a thousand languages.

When he first learnt of his bosses' plans to finance his surgery, he was ecstatic, to say the very least.

"I was so happy. I never thought such generous, thoughtful people existed," he said.

His looks have attracted unpleasant stares at some places he has worked at. Some people have said some pretty nasty things, too.

"I chose not to care about what people say," said the kitchen assistant who has worked at the Backyard for five years. `Here, I feel welcome, I feel at home,' he said. After the surgery Hassan will still work at the Backyard in gratitude of the kindness and care he has been shown.

But, although he loves it here, his ultimate desire is to return to his kampung and settle down.

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