Baby Girl Born With a Tumor Almost as Big as Her Head Undergoes Lifesaving Surgery One Day After Birth

When Zheni attended a pregnancy ultrasound, she expected to see her growing baby girl. Instead, the examination revealed something terrifying: an enormous tumor developing near her unborn daughter’s tailbone.

The mass appeared almost as large as the baby’s head.

Her daughter, Ava, had a rare condition called sacrococcygeal teratoma, a tumor that develops at the base of the spine and can become dangerously large before birth.

As the tumor continued growing, Ava’s life was placed at risk before she had even entered the world.

A Frightening Discovery During Pregnancy

Zheni and her husband, Johnathan, were devastated by the ultrasound findings.

They decided to travel to New Jersey to be closer to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where specialists could evaluate their daughter’s condition.

At the hospital, doctors discovered that the tumor had grown to approximately the size of a softball.

More alarmingly, it was placing significant strain on Ava’s developing heart.

The medical team realized that waiting could put the unborn baby’s life in further danger.

Doctors Scheduled an Emergency Delivery

Following the specialist evaluation, doctors arranged an emergency cesarean delivery for the next day.

Ava was born at CHOP’s Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit, a facility designed for mothers carrying babies with known birth defects.

A specialized surgical team was prepared to intervene if the newborn required immediate removal of the tumor.

Thankfully, doctors were able to stabilize Ava after delivery, allowing them to proceed with surgery the following day.

Her Tumor Was Removed Just One Day After Birth

Pediatric surgeon Dr. N. Scott Adzick performed the operation to remove the large sacrococcygeal teratoma.

The procedure was especially important because the tumor had already placed dangerous demands on Ava’s cardiovascular system.

For her family, the successful surgery marked an extraordinary turning point after weeks of fear and uncertainty.

However, Ava was not the only member of the family facing serious medical complications.

Her Mother’s Life Was Also in Danger

During delivery, Zheni experienced severe complications, including substantial blood loss.

She also suffered a collapsed left lung and developed pneumonia, requiring treatment at the nearby Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

While her newborn daughter recovered from surgery, Zheni was fighting through her own medical emergency.

Fortunately, both mother and baby recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital within approximately one week.

A Remarkable Recovery for Little Ava

In CHOP’s published patient story, Ava was four months old and doing well.

Her medical team planned continued monitoring every three months during her first year to check for possible recurrence of the tumor.

Doctors also noted that she might eventually need reconstructive surgery because the growth had occupied much of her backside.

Despite the frightening start to her life, Ava was recovering well at the time of the hospital’s update.

For Zheni and Johnathan, their daughter’s story was a powerful reminder of how timely specialist care can change the outcome of a dangerous prenatal diagnosis.

Source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia — Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (SCT): Ava’s Story. Originally published January 2016.