Massive Tumor Removed From 6-Year-Old Girl's Face In 'Lifesaving' Surgery

A massive facial tumor has been successfully removed from a 6-year-old girl's face in a "lifesaving" surgery conducted by a group of doctors in New York.

Nagalem Haile of Ethiopia was born with a tumor on her jaw that continued to grow in size over the years.

"As it expands, these very, very thin-walled veins become very precarious. Minor trauma could result in a major hemorrhage … which can be fatal," Dr. Milton Waner, one of her surgeons at Lenox Hill Hospital, said during a press conference Tuesday, according to People.

The tumor, which was the size of a cantaloupe, limited the girl's ability to breathe or swallow. If the tumor had been left untreated, it would have cut off Haile's air supply and suffocated her, or starved her as she would not have been able to swallow food.

"This type of surgery is very difficult, very dangerous and certainly life-threatening," Waner said. "We explained what would happen to the child's father. There was a possibility she may not make it," People reported.

Haile, who lived with her family in a small village that did not have access to medical care, flew to New York City in June along with her father to undergo the 12-hour-long surgery.

“Before the surgery, we explained to the father that there was a possibility of her not making it,” Waner said, according to NY Daily News. “We knew the second day that she would make it, but for the first 24 hours, we were very concerned.”

A team of surgeons required to carefully cut around nerves and arteries that could have led to paralysis or severe blood loss if severed. Surgeons also had to reconstruct part of her jawbone.

"We really went at it inch by inch, kind of step by step because it was very vascular," Dr. Teresa O, another lead surgeon, said. "Fortunately her facial muscles were all intact and not involved with the venous malformation so that was a great thing."

The surgery, which the doctors performed pro bono, was successfully completed with the removal of around one lb. of mass from Haile's jaw.

Haile is scheduled to leave New York next week.

"I was crying before but now I'm smiling so thanks to God," the patient's father, Matios Haile, said during the press conference. "She is like different after surgery. She is playing enjoying everything outdoors. There is a big difference. May God bless the doctors, without them this wouldn't be like this."