Haitian Girl Who Had 18-Pound Facial Tumor Removed Needs More Surgery

After overcoming a series of facial reconstructive surgeries for the removal of an 18 pound, melon-sized tumor from her face, followed by a devastating earthquake that resulted in loss of family and homelessness – Marlie Casseus faces another challenge.

“Marlie is having difficulty breathing due to an infection,” stated Janelle Prieto, Director of IKF’s Wonderfund. “She needs to go in to Holtz Children’s Hospital for surgery. She has come so far and has overcome so much – we will not let her die and we are appealing to the community for help.”

In 2005, IKF’s Wonderfund through the generous donations that came in from throughout the U.S., funded a series of facial reconstructive surgeries that removed a massive tumor that covered most of Marlie’s face. The tumor was as a result of Polyostotic Fibrous Dysplasia, a genetic bone disease that can affect any bone in the body. Marlie’s mouth and nasal passages were blocked prior to the initial surgery. She could not speak and was only able to eat and breathe through one narrow passage.

IKF’s Wonderfund is a program of Jackson Memorial Foundation, made possible by Holtz Children’s Hospital. The philanthropic program helps critically ill children, throughout the world, gain immediate access to life-saving and life-changing medical treatments.