A four-year-old with an extremely rare tumour as big as a football growing from her skull has finally had it removed. Renu, who lives in eastern Uttar Pradesh with her parents and six siblings, spent years with the growth, which weighed a five and a half pounds. The tumour, which could have exploded at any time, had been getting bigger and bigger, and would have eventually ruptured, killing the little girl.
Renu could not have an operation because her family did not have the money to see a doctor. But she was saved by the kindness of strangers, who raised awareness of her plight by posting shocking pictures on social media. Her story reached Akhilesh Yadav, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, who asked officials to give Renu a free operation to remove it.
The rare tumour, known as giant occipital encephalocele, was finally cut off by a team of surgeons at King George's Medical University, Lucknow, on December 22. The tumour, one of only two known cases in the world, had been growing in Renu's occipital region - the part of the brain which controls sight - ever since she was born, said Dr SN Kureel.
But while it was benign, it was still dangerous.
'If it was not operated quickly, the tumor would have grown further and eventually ruptured. If that had happened, she would have lost her life,' Dr Kureel explained.
The tumour - which could have become malignant - was also putting the little girl's development at risk. But the surgery was not without its risks.
Dr Kureel said: 'The main challenge was to take out the tumour without damaging a vital nerve that supplies light to the eyes. 'If it had got damaged during the course of operation, then the patient would have lost her vision permanently.' The operation was a success, but Dr Kureel says it will be a while until they know whether the tumour has a lasting effect on the little girl. But for her farm labourer father Jhinkant, it is nothing short of a miracle.
'I don't know what social media is and how it works,' the 30-year-old said.
'But one thing I know it that it helped save my child's life. I don't know the man who put up a plea to help Renu.
'This act of compassion and benevolence has restored my faith in humanity. God bless them all.'
See more photos after the jump...
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