When Tammy Gonzalez walked into her Miami ultrasound appointment, she expected joy — not fear.

At first, she smiled at the grainy image of her baby. But then the technician’s face changed. Near the baby’s mouth was something strange — a bubble-like shape. Further scans revealed it was a rare, fast-growing tumor called a teratoma, threatening both mother and child.

Doctors advised ending the pregnancy. Tammy refused.

Instead, she agreed to an experimental procedure that had never been attempted for this kind of tumor — endoscopic fetal surgery. Dr. Ruben Quintero inserted tiny tools and a camera through a small incision, guiding them inside the womb as Tammy watched, awake.

With delicate precision, he cut the tumor’s stem. It floated free. The danger was gone.

Over the next months, the tumor shrank on its own. Tammy carried her baby to term. When Leyna was born, she was healthy and crying — the remaining tumor removed after birth. All that’s left is a small scar inside her mouth.

Today, Leyna laughs, plays, and thrives — living proof of a mother’s courage and a medical milestone.

“It’s a miracle,” Tammy says. “She’s perfect.”