Wellington surgeons removed tumor from East Timorese baby
Wellington surgeons volunteering their time and skills have removed a giant tumour from an East Timorese baby in a life-saving operation that pared a third off the youngster’s weight. Fourteen-month-old Alex Gonzaga and his mother Elisa Da Conceicao flew into the capital about a fortnight ago so Alex could be operated on by a 10-member surgical team at Wellington Hospital.
The 3.3-kilogram benign tumour was removed on Sunday and Alex is now recuperating.
Alex, who weighed about 11kg before the surgery, is expected to make a full recovery with no long-term consequences.
I was actually one of the interpreters for that child, Alex and his mum, Elisa, as they don’t speak English at all.
