Tammy Gonzalez’s journey began with what was supposed to be a routine prenatal ultrasound — a joyful look into her baby’s early development. But at around 17 weeks, the scan revealed something deeply alarming: a large “bubble” seemed to be protruding from her baby’s mouth. Tammy panicked, asking, “Is that on me or the baby?” What first appeared as a benign swelling was soon identified by doctors as a fetal oral teratoma, a rare tumor that affects only a tiny fraction of pregnancies.
The diagnosis carried devastating implications. Doctors explained to Tammy that the tumor was growing rapidly, posed a serious risk of bleeding, and could be fatal for her unborn child. If the baby survived, she might require a tracheotomy and multiple surgeries after birth, with no guarantee of normal development. Faced with these grim odds, the medical team even suggested termination of the pregnancy. But Tammy was determined to explore every possible path to save her child.
After doing her research, Tammy was referred to Dr. Rubén Quintero and his partner, Dr. Eftichia Kontopoulos, at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Quintero, a pioneer in fetal medicine, acknowledged that removing an oral teratoma in utero had never been done before, but he agreed to try. They performed a highly delicate fetoscopic surgery, inserting a tiny camera and laser through a small incision in Tammy’s abdomen, all while she remained awake under local anesthesia. On-screen, she watched as the surgeons carefully severed the tumor’s stalk, and the mass finally floated away — a moment Tammy described as feeling like a huge weight lifting off her.
Because the tumor was too fragile and large to be removed through the small surgical opening, it was left floating freely in the amniotic fluid, where it gradually shrank over the rest of the pregnancy. Tammy continued with careful monitoring, apprehensive but hopeful. Nearly five months later, she gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Leyna (which means “little angel”). At birth, Leyna weighed over eight pounds, and remarkably, the only sign of the surgery was a small scar inside her mouth.
Leyna’s birth represented not just a personal triumph for her family — it was a medical milestone, widely reported as the first successful in-utero removal of an oral teratoma. The case gave new hope in the field of fetal surgery, showing that life-threatening birth defects can sometimes be corrected before birth with the right expertise, courage, and innovation. For Tammy, the operation validated her decision to refuse termination and fight for a chance, demonstrating how maternal bravery and medical skill can work together to rewrite what seems impossible.
Today, Leyna is a healthy, thriving child. Tammy remembers the journey with gratitude — from the terrifying ultrasound moment to watching her daughter grow, laugh, and live without the life-threatening tumor that once loomed so large. Her story remains a powerful example of hope, perseverance, and how pioneering fetal medicine can change lives.
