US surgeons remove 6-pound tumor from Gambia girl's mouth
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A 12-year-old girl from the West African nation of Gambia is expected to leave the U.S. next week after surgeons successfully removed a 6-pound tumor from her mouth.
Surgeons in New York say the benign tumor in Janet Sylva's mouth was about the size of a cantaloupe and was one of the largest tumors they'd ever seen. They say it prevented her from eating and made breathing difficult. They feared Janet would die within a year if nothing was done.
Dr. David Hoffman learned of Janet's plight after doctors in Senegal reached out to international health groups.
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The Global Medical Relief Fund arranged for transportation, housing and travel for Janet and her mother.
A large medical team volunteered for the January operation at Cohen Children's Medical Center on Long Island.