**Note: This story originally made headlines in June 2012.**
During a routine ultrasound, **Tammy Gonzalez** of Miami received devastating news: doctors discovered a **rare and often fatal tumor**—a **teratoma**—growing from her unborn baby’s mouth. They recommended terminating the pregnancy.
But Tammy refused to give up.
Desperate for a solution, she opted for a **risky, never-before-attempted fetal surgery**. Dr. **Ruben Quintero** inserted tiny instruments into her womb while she was awake and successfully **cut the tumor’s stem**, allowing it to float away.
> “It was like a 500-ton weight lifted off of me,” Tammy recalled.
Four months later, baby **Leyna** was born **healthy**, with just a small scar.
> “She talks, she drinks. She is my little miracle child,” said Tammy.
A powerful story of **motherly love**, **medical bravery**, and **hope against all odds**.