Pecohub A Florida teen is recovering after having surgery to amputate her 174-lb. leg.
Jasmine Ramirez, 14, spent most of her life with a rare lymphomatous tumor that affected her left leg, according to ABC affiliate WFTS.
The condition, which she has had since she was 2, caused her leg to grow abnormally, CBS affiliate WPEC reported.
Jasmine underwent several surgeries over the years, but recent infection in the leg led doctors to decide to amputate, per local outlet WTVT.
So the teen reportedly underwent nearly 17 hours of surgery earlier this month to remove the leg at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
Doctors “were able to remove 90%” of the mass, which also impacted her abdomen, in addition to amputating the leg, according to Anastashia Carrasquillo — identified by WFTS as the teen’s sister — who organized a GoFundMe campaign for her and their family.
Jasmine now faces what Carrasquillo said will be a “long, rigorous journey” as she heals.
She will spend Christmas at the hospital, though Carrasquillo said Jasmine “will not be sad” as she will celebrate with loved ones.
Carrasquillo said her sister already “is getting stronger” in wake of having major surgery.
“Still, the struggle of adapting to this new stage of her life is present,” Carrasquillo said 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 regularly updating a Facebook page called “Jasmine’s Journey” with information about her, her life and future.
“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.
