need to know
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A 14-year-old girl underwent nearly 17 hours of surgery to remove 174 pounds. leg
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Jasmine Ramirez spent much of her young life dealing with a rare health condition
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Doctors choose to amputate teen’s leg after recent infection
A 174-pound Florida teen is recovering after having his leg amputated. leg.
Jasmine Ramirez, 14, has lived with a rare lymphoma tumor that affects her left leg most of her life, ABC affiliate WFTS reports .
She has had the disease since she was two years old, causing her legs to grow abnormally, CBS affiliate WPEC reported.
Jasmine has undergone multiple surgeries over the years, but a recent infection in her leg led doctors to decide to amputate it, local media outlet WTVT reported.
The teen reportedly underwent nearly 17 hours of surgery to remove his leg at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg earlier this month.
Anastashia Carrasquillo said that in addition to the amputation, doctors removed “90 percent” of the mass, which also affected her abdomen. Anastasia Carrasquillo was identified by WFTS as the teen’s sister and a GoFundMe campaign was organized for her and her family.
to fund me
Jasmine Ramirez (in bed) has a rare disease that makes her weigh 174 pounds. leg amputated
Jasmine now faces what Carrasquillo calls “a long and difficult journey” in recovery.
She will spend Christmas in the hospital, but Carrasquillo said Jasmine “won’t be sad” because she will be celebrating with her loved ones.
Carrasquillo said her sister has become “a stronger person” since undergoing major surgery.
“Still, the struggle of adjusting to this new phase of life is still there,” Carrasquillo said at the family fundraiser. “She is very strong and we know her recovery will continue to go well.”
As of Tuesday, December 23, Jasmine and her family have raised more than $22,000 through a GoFundMe campaign.
The family also regularly updates a Facebook page called “Jasmine’s Journey” with information about her, her life and her future.
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“We just want people to know how strong Jasmine is and how brave and kind she is,” Carrasquillo said, calling her sister “a sweet girl,” according to WFTS.
“No child deserves this,” Jasmine’s sister continued, “but she has faced challenges and she has overcome them, and we want people to know her story of strength and courage, and we want her story to be told.”
Read the original article on People