Theirs are the first two young lives saved by a new medical initiative, but they will not be the last.

East Timor youngsters Celestina Dias, 11 and Geovanio Pereira, 8 are the first patients under a new program at the Royal Children’s Hospital that helps critically ill kids sponsored by charities and full-fee-paying international patients.

As part of this new arrangement, the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) will now be able to bring five children from overseas to the hospital each year for lifesaving treatment. Celestina and Geovanio both needed open heart surgery that was not available in their home country.