Baptist Hospital doctors save Haitian girl with massive tumor

Neissa Azor, 8, to return to Haiti after undergoing life-saving surgery

MIAMI – A girl from Haiti was born with a tumor that became massive over the years, threatening her life. But today, she is smiling and thankful to be alive.

A team of doctors from Baptist Hospital helped remove the 8-year-old girl's tumor, which made it nearly impossible for her to breathe.

"It was growing rapidly," said Dr. Joseph McCain, who is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. "From the time I saw her in August to one month later, she was beginning to have airway problems."

What happened two weeks ago inside Baptist Hospital was nothing short of extraordinary.

Neissa Azor knew she was in a race against time, so she and her mother boarded a plane to South Florida, where a team of surgeons and physicians performed the life-saving surgery.

"I can't even explain it," said Neissa's mother, Fernande Romelus. "We were looking all over Haiti for help and we couldn't find anyone who could help her."

That's when Elaine Lewis came into their lives.

Working as a surgical technician in Port-au-Prince, Lewis said she was on her lunch break when she bumped into Neissa.

"I saw them sitting on a bench out front and I smiled and tried not to stare and kept walking, and God said, 'Turn around, go back and get their story,'" Lewis said. "So I did, and gave her a sucker and asked them if they wanted my help."

Within six weeks, Neissa was admitted to Baptist Hospital. The faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization was able to provide the medical care for Neissa through its compassionate care program.

After undergoing surgery, she is now expected to live a normal life thanks to the generosity of complete strangers.

"She's doing pretty good," McCain said. "Right now, she can eat, speak (and) she can function."

Doctors said Neissa will get new dentures and then she will be able to return to Haiti, where she is planning to be back in school -- somewhere she hasn't been in a year.

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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.