Jan 27, 2006 3:28 pm US/Eastern
Girl's Latest Face Surgery Ruled Successful
by Dr. Sean Kenniff
MIAMI (CBS4 News/AP) ―
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Marlie Casseus last month.
CBS4 News
A 14-year-old Haitian girl is recovering after another successful surgery to remove the remains of a 16-pound tumor-like growth on her face.
Marlie Casseus underwent a six-hour surgery on Thursday. She is in intensive care at Holtz Children's Hospital, but doctors say the surgery successfully removed the growth that had distorted the lower portions of her face.
Doctors say they inserted a titanium plate to replace her jaw. The plate will let Marlie open and close her mouth and chew. She will also now be able to breathe through her nose, which she wasn't able to do before.
Still, "More work will be needed to correct all her problems," according to Dr. Jesus Gomez, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine maxillofacial surgeon who led the surgery. That's because her condition has produced numerous problems that are not as evident. She will need to undergo two additional operations to reconstruct her nasal bridge, improve her soft tissue and correct her hypertelorism, characterized by a wide separation between the eyes. Donations can be sent to CBS4's
Neighbors 4 Neighbors or the
International Kids Fund by calling (305) 585-5888.
Marlie gained national attention in December when doctors performed a 17-hour surgery on her. During that surgery, they were able to remove the mass from both sides of Marlie's face and reconstruct much of her nose.
The nonprofit Good Samaritan for a Better Life brought the girl to the United States for free treatment.
The teen suffers from a rare genetic disease called polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, which causes bone to swell and become jelly-like.
(© 2006 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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