A 14-year-old Florida girl is recovering after surgeons amputated her left leg, which weighed 174 pounds.
Jasmine Ramirez has lived since early childhood with a rare lymphomatous tumor that affected her left leg, according to ABC affiliate WFTS. The condition, which began when she was 2, caused the limb to grow abnormally, CBS affiliate WPEC reported.
After multiple surgeries over the years, doctors ultimately recommended amputation following a recent infection in the leg, according to local outlet WTVT.
Earlier this month, Jasmine underwent nearly 17 hours of surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. Along with amputating the leg, doctors “were able to remove 90%” of the mass, which also impacted her abdomen, her sister Anastashia Carrasquillo told WFTS. Carrasquillo organized a GoFundMe campaign to support Jasmine and their family.
Carrasquillo said Jasmine now faces a “long, rigorous journey” as she heals. She will remain in the hospital through Christmas, but Carrasquillo said her sister “will not be sad” because she’ll be surrounded by loved ones.
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Carrasquillo added that Jasmine “is getting stronger” after the major procedure.
“Still, the struggle of adapting to this new stage of her life is present,” Carrasquillo wrote on the family’s fundraiser. “She is so strong and we know recovery will continue to go well.”
More than $22,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe campaign for Jasmine and her family as of Tuesday, Dec. 23. The family is also sharing updates on a Facebook page called “Jasmine’s Journey,” posting information about her life and what comes next.
“We just want people to know how strong Jasmine is and how courageous and how kind she is,” Carrasquillo said, calling her sister “a sweet girl,” according to WFTS.
“No kid ever deserves this,” she added. “But she has challenges and she has pushed through, and we want people to know the story of her strength and her courageousness — and we also want her story to get out there.”
