Three-Year-Old Girl From Brazil Suffers From Rare Facial Tumor: Doctors Describe It As 'The Largest Myxoma Ever Recorded'

Melyssa Delgado Braga, who is a three-year-old girl from Brazil, has a rare facial tumor that hinders her from eating and swallowing. Brazilian experts said that the child needs to be treated or else, it would lead to death. Fortunately, after US surgeons became aware of her case, they offered their service without expense.

Melyssa's huge and rare facial tumor weighs 5lbs, making it as one of the biggest myxoma ever recorded. Experts described her case as "almost like another head attached to her jaw." This cause displacement of the tongue which limits her from eating and swallowing, leaving her in the state of almost malnourished.

As much as the Melyssa's myxoma needs treatment, experts from Sao Paulo, Brazil warned that it might be fatal because the operation would be too much for her fragile immune system. However, after her Facebook campaign became viral, experts from Louisiana State University (LSU) have given their services for free.

In December, Melyssa's rare tumor was removed in an eight-hour operation. This allowed the little girl to do things like what other girls do normally - eat, talk, and laugh.

Daily Mail reported that Melyssa's 21-year-old mom, Carol, revealed that they were too desperate about her daughter's tumor and the only chance to her survival is to seek help in the US. However, they knew that it would cost a lot to purchase "flight tickets and for staying in the country." So in November, they created the Facebook page 'Ajudem a Melyssa' (Help Melyssa).

Meanwhile, Express reported that doctors from the US were able to read her story. Dr. G.E. Ghali turned to the Willis-Knighton Health System to ask if they could finance the family's living and hospital costs. The charity agreed and finally, a successful eight-hour operation was performed.