14YO Girl With Rare Condition Undergoes 17 Hours Of Grueling Surgery To Remove 174lb Leg

A 14-year-old girl from Florida underwent grueling surgery to amputate her 174-lb (78 kg) leg.

Jasmine Ramirez will spend Christmas in the hospital after doctors worked nearly 17 hours to amputate her left leg.

The surgery was successful, announced Ramirez’s sister, Anastashia Carrasquillo. Earlier this month, surgeons managed to remove 90% of the mass, which also affected the teen’s abdomen.

“My dad always told Jasmine if it came down to your life or your leg, we would choose your life, so they took the chance and thank God that it went well,” Carrasquillo said.

A 14-year-old girl from Florida underwent a nearly 17-hour surgery to remove her leg

14YO girl with rare condition resting in hospital bed after 17-hour surgery to remove 174lb leg, surrounded by medical team.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

Ramirez is now recovering at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she will celebrate the holidays—and the success of the hours-long operation—surrounded by her family.

Carrasquillo said her sister now faces a “long, rigorous” recovery, but she “will not be sad” on Christmas because she will have the support and encouragement of her loved ones.

Ramirez is already “getting stronger” after the operation, shared her sister, who set up a fundraiser for the 14-year-old.

14YO girl with rare condition smiling and making peace sign after 17-hour surgery to remove 174lb leg.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

Comment by Starsha James expressing sympathy for 14YO girl with rare condition needing surgery to remove 174lb leg.

Ramirez was diagnosed with a rare lymphomatous tumor that affected her leg when she was 2 years old.

Over the years, she underwent multiple surgeries as the tumor caused the limb to grow abnormally.

However, after a recent life-threatening infection, doctors determined that the risks would be too high if they didn’t amputate her leg.

Jasmine Ramirez has a rare condition that caused her left leg to grow abnormally

14YO girl with rare condition sitting in wheelchair showing 174lb leg affected by overgrowth before surgery.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

“She is so strong and we know the recovery will continue to go well,” Carrasquillo said.

“Still, the struggle of adapting to this new stage of her life is present.”

At the time of writing, the family has already raised $33,000 through the GoFundMe fundraiser out of their $40,000 goal.

Two teenage girls wearing patterned robes stand beside a truck, one with a large leg affected by a rare condition.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

Comment from Pia Galvez Lazo reacting to a 174lb leg related to a rare condition and surgery story.

Comment by Tippy Rose expressing hope for a 14-year-old girl living with a rare leg condition.

Her recovery will require months of healing, physical therapy, medication, and full-time care. The teen’s parents must be present with her at the hospital around the clock during this process, Carrasquillo explained on the GoFundMe page.

Ramirez’s family has also created a Facebook page called “Jasmine’s Journey” to share updates on her recovery.

Her loved ones have launched a GoFundMe page to help cover essential expenses

14YO girl with rare condition standing outside with a companion, showing leg affected by a rare medical condition.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

Carrasquillo described her sister, the youngest of seven children, as strong, sassy, courageous, and sweet.

“No kid ever deserves this,” Ramirez’s older sister continued, “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.”

Donations will help cover gas, groceries and food, hospital bills, and other essential expenses.

14YO girl with rare condition recovering in wheelchair after 17-hour surgery to remove 174lb leg, wrapped in Hello Kitty blanket

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

“Thank you to everyone for your love, prayers, and support. Please continue to keep Jasmine in your thoughts as she fights to get better,” Carrasquillo wrote. 

“She is such an amazing young lady who continues to grow and overcome the odds.”

Since her hospitalization, Ramirez has been visited by aunts, cousins, family friends, and even her school principal. She has also received cards, posters, and videos with well wishes from her classmates, who expressed how much they missed having her at school.

Lymphoma is a blood cancer with more than 70 subtypes

14YO girl with rare condition celebrating after 17-hour surgery to remove 174lb leg, smiling by decorated pink cake.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

As a toddler, Ramirez was diagnosed with lymphoma after her family noticed her left leg started growing much faster than the rest of her body.

Eventually, her leg got so large that she had to use a wheelchair, and her family had to have her clothes tailored so they would fit.

Lymphoma is the general term for cancer in the lymphatic system, the network of tissues, vessels, and organs that help the body fight infection, the Cleveland Clinic explains.

Comment by Naomi Hall praising the 17-hour surgery for rare condition on a 14-year-old girl’s 174lb leg removal.

14-year-old girl with rare condition pictured before 17-hour surgery to remove 174lb leg to improve health

14YO girl with rare condition resting in hospital bed after grueling surgery to remove 174lb leg, covered with colorful blanket.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

The condition is considered a blood cancer because it starts in white blood cells, which transform into rapidly growing cancer cells.

According to the clinic, there are more than 70 subtypes of lymphoma, which can be aggressive (fast-growing) or indolent (slow-growing). When lymphoma develops, it causes lymph nodes to swell. 

Lymphoma is one of the most common types of cancer in teenagers and young adults, accounting for about 1 in 5 cancer diagnoses in young people. Each year, there are approximately 2,000 cases diagnosed in children in the United States.

The teen was diagnosed with lymphoma at just 2 years old

14YO girl with rare condition holding hand in hospital bed after 17 hours of grueling surgery to remove 174lb leg

Image credits: Jasmine’s Journey

Like most cancers, the majority of the genetic mutations that cause lymphoma happen spontaneously and cannot be attributed to a specific cause. However, some conditions or issues increase the risk of developing lymphoma, including HIV, a family history of lymphoma, and organ transplants.

Update text about 14YO girl with rare condition after 16.5-hour surgery to remove mass and amputate leg for recovery.

Image credits: Anastashia Carrasquillo

14YO girl with rare condition resting in wheelchair after 17-hour surgery to remove 174lb leg, surrounded by family in hospital.

Image credits: Jasmine’s Journey

The prognosis for lymphoma in the legs depends on several factors, such as the patient’s age, the stage of lymphoma at diagnosis, and how far the cancer has spread.

Ramirez’s older sister, Anastashia Carrasquillo, described the teenager as a “superhero”

Illustration titled My Lucky Leg by Jasmine Ramirez, related to a 14-year-old girl with rare condition and leg surgery.

Image credits: Jasmine’s Journey

“As her sister—and my other siblings that lived in that house—we knew it wasn’t normal, but we always tried to treat Jasmine as if she was a normal kid,” Carrasquillo said of her sister’s condition, adding that Ramirez’s lymphoma subtype was so rare that doctors didn’t know how to diagnose it at first.

“She’s a trooper. She’s a superhero, honestly. All that strength and courage it takes to do this — it takes a lot.”

Comment expressing concern and prayers for 14YO girl with rare condition after 17-hour surgery to remove 174lb leg.

“Amputation was likely a hard choice, but a good one,” one person commented

Comment expressing support and well wishes for a 14-year-old girl’s recovery after surgery to remove a 174lb leg.

Comment by Angelina Chambers expressing relief and hope after a 14YO girl’s rare condition leg removal surgery.

Comment about a 14YO girl with rare condition wishing her a prosperous recovery after 17 hours of surgery to remove a 174lb leg

Comment from Krystal Edwards explaining 14YO girl’s rare condition causing 174lb leg growth and delayed surgery removal.

Comment from Michael Klapper discussing amputation as a difficult but beneficial choice for 14YO girl with rare condition.

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Comment by Lance Williams expressing concern over timing and risks of surgery to remove a large leg due to a rare condition.

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14YO girl with rare condition undergoing 17-hour grueling surgery to remove a 174lb leg for recovery and healing.

Comment from Joan Fray expressing support and relief for 14YO girl’s recovery after surgery for rare leg condition.

Comment from Melissa Baker-Perez expressing hope for a 14YO girl’s recovery after surgery to remove a 174lb leg.

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Comment by Suzie Burnette expressing surprise about weight, mentioning she weighs 115 lbs with prayer hand emojis.

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