Doctors Save Mother and Newborn After Delivering Baby Hidden Behind a 22-Pound Ovarian Tumor

The story of Suze Lopez began like an expected chapter in a long medical journey she had been preparing to face for years. She was scheduled for surgery to remove a 22 pound ovarian cyst that had steadily shaped her physical health and daily life, and the routine pre operative steps felt familiar to her as a nurse who understood hospital protocols well. When her pregnancy test unexpectedly registered positive, she assumed it had to be the result of a mistake. She told “Good Morning America” that she “wasn’t even believing it at first, because I have ovarian problems, so I was thinking it was a false positive.” Her husband Andrew felt just as surprised and said he “thought she was joking” until she handed him a small gift that revealed the truth. What neither of them realized in that moment was that this surprising result would become the first sign of a medical event that would leave seasoned physicians astonished.

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At Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, doctors soon discovered that Suze was experiencing a rare abdominal ectopic pregnancy in which her baby was growing behind the massive ovarian tumor rather than inside the uterus. What had been expected to be a standard tumor removal transformed into one of the most complicated cases the team had ever handled. Thirty specialists would ultimately gather in a single operating room to deliver a full term baby positioned outside the uterus while simultaneously managing a placenta attached to abdominal tissues and removing the heavy dermoid tumor. Physicians later described the successful outcome as a “medical miracle” because pregnancies of this type almost never result in a living baby or a stable recovery for the mother.

A Pregnancy Hidden Behind a Giant Ovarian Cyst

Suze had known she was pregnant for only five days when her abdominal pain sent her to Cedars Sinai. Once imaging was completed, Dr. John Ozimek, the medical director of labor and delivery, identified a condition so uncommon that many physicians may never encounter it. The fetus was developing entirely outside the uterus and had grown behind the massive ovarian cyst that had long concerned her. Dr. Ozimek explained in the hospital release that “a pregnancy this far outside the uterus that continues to develop is almost unheard of.” His words captured the seriousness of the discovery and the tremendous complexity that would follow.

The diagnostic details revealed why Suze had been unaware of her pregnancy. According to Ozimek, “He was located outside of the uterus, posterior to this big ovarian mass in the abdomen, so his head was up under the left side of the abdomen, under the spleen.” Instead of displaying typical pregnancy changes, her abdomen appeared to reflect only the growth of the tumor. The placement of the baby in such an unusual position created risks not only for the child but also for Suze, who faced the possibility of severe internal bleeding as the pregnancy progressed.

As doctors continued reviewing the case, the rarity of the situation became even more evident. Dr. Michael Manuel of Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center said, “It was profound to see this full term baby sitting behind a very large ovarian tumor, not in the uterus.” He added, “In my entire career, I’ve never even heard of one making it this far into the pregnancy.” Abdominal ectopic pregnancies seldom reach viability because the fetus typically lacks sufficient blood supply to grow. That Suze’s baby had reached full term weight challenged common medical expectations and underscored how unusual this case truly was.

An Operating Room Filled With Experts

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, Cedars Sinai brought together nearly thirty specialists whose combined expertise was essential for navigating a surgery that carried multiple life threatening risks. Maternal fetal medicine experts, gynecologic oncologists, anesthesiologists, NICU staff, and surgical nurses spent extensive time determining how they would approach delivering a baby located outside the uterus while also preparing to remove a tumor weighing more than twenty pounds. The team also had to account for the unusual placement of the placenta, which was attached to abdominal tissues rather than the uterine lining. This attachment made hemorrhaging a significant concern because abdominal organs are not designed to support a placenta.

During the procedure, surgeons lifted the large dermoid cyst to reach the baby. The hospital release described how the team “lifted the massive dermoid cyst out of the way so Ozimek and team could quickly deliver the baby and hand him off to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staff.” In those moments, every member of the surgical team moved with coordinated precision. The safe extraction of the baby depended on each specialist performing their role without delay, knowing that both mother and child were in a critical window.

Almost immediately after the delivery, Suze began experiencing severe hemorrhaging. Anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Sanchez explained, “I had already powered up a special machine that delivers blood products fast because every second matters. We used 11 units of blood.” His foresight proved essential as the rapid infusion system ensured that Suze could be stabilized quickly enough for surgeons to continue managing her condition. While the baby was safely transferred to the NICU team, the remaining surgeons worked to remove the tumor and control the bleeding that threatened Suze’s life.

Baby Ryu Emerges Stronger Than Expected

Baby Ryu was born weighing eight pounds and, to the astonishment of the medical team, showed what they described as “very few health problems.” For a child who had developed in an environment that lacked the natural protection and structure of the uterus, his stability was remarkable. The initial concern centered on whether his lungs had formed well enough to function normally after growing in such an unusual location. Neonatologist Dr. Sara Dayanim said, “The following day we were able to remove the breathing tube, and over the course of his two weeks with us, Ryu quickly reached all of the important benchmarks for surviving well. He defied all the odds.” Her words reflected the sense of relief and amazement shared by everyone caring for him.

As Ryu adjusted to life outside the operating room, Suze focused on her recovery with determination. She spoke about the support she received from nurse Carmen Chavez, whom she called her “guardian angel” for the assistance and emotional comfort provided during her difficult recovery. Healing after an abdominal ectopic pregnancy and a major tumor removal required significant physical strength, but the desire to reach her newborn son encouraged her through every phase of the process.

Andrew described his gratitude in a heartfelt way when speaking to “Good Morning America.” He said, “Miracles happen, and he definitely was a miracle for us.” His words captured the emotional weight of the experience for the Lopez family. While the medical details were extraordinary, the personal significance of their survival and their child’s health defined the moment for them more than anything else.

The Medical Context Behind the Miracle

Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, and abdominal ectopic pregnancies represent one of the rarest and most dangerous variations. According to JAMA, the blood supply outside the uterus is generally insufficient to support fetal growth, which is why ectopic pregnancies usually end early and why abdominal cases very rarely reach viability. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that 2.7 percent of pregnancy related deaths can be attributed to ruptured ectopic pregnancies, which illustrates how severe the risks can be.

Several factors made Suze’s case medically significant. Her baby reached full term weight, something that seldom occurs in abdominal pregnancies. The ovarian tumor concealed the pregnancy, preventing early discovery and allowing the condition to progress unnoticed. The placenta managed to attach in a way that supported fetal development even while placing Suze at considerable risk. Finally, both mother and baby survived the surgery despite the heavy blood loss and the complexity involved in removing such a large tumor. Any one of these elements would have been remarkable on its own. Together, they represented a convergence of circumstances rarely seen in medical practice.

A Family Changed by Gratitude and Faith

Suze’s reflections after the experience reveal how deeply it affected her understanding of life and its fragility. In the Cedars Sinai release she said, “I appreciate every little thing. Everything. Every day is a gift and I’m never going to waste it. God gave me this baby so that he could be an example to the world that God exists that miracles, modern day miracles, do happen.” Her statement illustrates how she interpreted the survival of both herself and her son as a gift shaped by both medical expertise and spiritual meaning.

The emotional journey the Lopez family endured also shows how medical challenges often blend with personal resilience. While the medical team focused on surgical strategy and risk management, Suze and Andrew held to the hope that both mother and child would emerge safely. Their reunion with baby Ryu represented the end of a period filled with uncertainty and the beginning of a future shaped by gratitude.

Beyond their family, the story has begun to resonate more widely. Within the medical community, it stands as an example of what multidisciplinary collaboration can achieve when facing rare and dangerous scenarios. For the public, it serves as a reminder that extraordinary outcomes sometimes arise from situations that seem overwhelmingly difficult and that moments of courage and teamwork can create life changing results.

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Michelle

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