An emotional reunion has taken place in Sydney between an Australian surgeon and the American woman whose life he helped save more than four decades ago.

At just 22 years old, Brenda Farah Coleman was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer and placed in palliative care in the United States after doctors told her there were no treatment options left.

She was then referred to Australian gynaecological oncologist, Professor Neville Hacker, who was working at UCLA and using pioneering surgical and chemotherapy techniques that were not yet widely available.

Hacker’s treatment gave Coleman a second chance at life.

Now, 44 years later, the pair have reunited for the first time, with Coleman travelling to Australia to personally thank the surgeon she describes as her “angel”.

During the emotional meeting, she told him: “You gave me a whole life.”

The reunion also celebrated Hacker’s decades-long contribution to cancer care, with Coleman unveiling a plaque in his honour.

Reflecting on the moment, Hacker said seeing former patients thrive after so many years remains one of the most rewarding parts of his career.

Reporter: Claudia Vrdoljak