Woman Gives Birth After Doctors Discover Baby Hidden by 22lb Tumor

What doctors are calling a medical miracle has occurred after a woman who believed she would never have another child successfully gave birth—despite carrying a 22-pound tumor in her abdomen.

The mother, Suze Lopez, had gone for medical testing ahead of a scheduled surgery to remove a large growth that had been developing in her uterus for years. To her shock, doctors discovered she was also pregnant.

In a statement released by Cedars-Sinai, Suze said: “Because of the large ovarian cyst that had been growing for years, it could have been a false positive, even ovarian cancer,”

“And I was used to very irregular periods and some abdominal discomfort. I could not believe that after 17 years of praying, and trying, for a second child, that I was actually pregnant.”

After learning she was pregnant, Suze began experiencing increasing abdominal pain. A scan at Cedars-Sinai Hospital revealed that while she was indeed expecting a baby, her uterus appeared empty. Doctors discovered that a giant ovarian cyst weighing more than 20 pounds was taking up most of the space in her abdomen.

A Rare and Almost Unheard-of Pregnancy

Speaking on the case, John Ozimek, DO, Medical Director of Labor and Delivery, said:

“We then discovered a nearly full-term baby boy in a small space in the abdomen, near the liver, with his butt resting on the uterus. A pregnancy this far outside the uterus that continues to develop is almost unheard of.”

“It makes sense that she just thought the tumor was getting bigger again, not that she could be pregnant,” he added.

Doctors later diagnosed Suze with an abdominal ectopic pregnancy, a rare condition where a baby develops outside the uterus.

Gynecologic oncologist Michael Manuel, MD, expressed his disbelief at the discovery, saying:

“In my entire career, I’ve never even heard of one making it this far into the pregnancy.”

A High-Risk Delivery

A team of 30 medical specialists worked together to safely deliver the baby while also removing the massive cyst and ensuring Suze’s survival.

Anesthesiologist Michael Sanchez, MD, described the tense moments following delivery: “As soon as the baby was delivered, Lopez started hemorrhaging badly. We were a specially trained team of obstetric anesthesiologists and well prepared, but it was still intense,”

“I had already powered up a special machine that delivers blood products fast because every second matters. We used 11 units of blood.”

Defying the Odds

The baby, named Ryu Lopez, weighed 8 pounds at birth. Although doctors initially expressed concern about his health—particularly his lungs—he quickly showed strength.

Neonatologist Sara Dayanim, MD, said Ryu was “feisty,” adding that within two weeks,

“Ryu quickly reached all of the important benchmarks for surviving well. He defied all the odds.”

In a statement released by Suze’s husband, Andrew, he said:

“He is our gift. And Ryu and Suze are my miracles … many prayers have been answered.”