Florida Teen Undergoes 17 Hour Surgery to Amputate 170 Pound Leg Caused by Extremely Rare Medical Condition

A fourteen year old girl in Florida has undergone a marathon seventeen hour surgical procedure to amputate her left leg after an extremely rare and unidentified medical condition caused the limb to grow at an abnormal and aggressive rate, leaving her wheelchair bound and facing life threatening complications.

The teenager, identified as Jasmine Ramirez, has lived with the condition since she was just two years old. According to her family, the growth affected every structure of her leg, including the bones, blood vessels, muscle tissue, fat and skin. Medical specialists involved in her care confirmed that the condition is so rare that it does not yet have a specific medical classification or name.

Doctors initially treated the abnormal growth as a lymphomatous tumour and attempted to manage it through multiple medical interventions over the years. Despite these efforts, the leg continued to expand rapidly, eventually becoming disproportionately large compared to the rest of her body. As the condition progressed, Jasmine gradually lost her ability to walk and became fully dependent on a wheelchair for mobility.

Family members said the physical impact of the condition extended into nearly every aspect of Jasmine’s daily life. Her clothing had to be custom made to accommodate the size of her leg, and routine activities became increasingly difficult. Despite these challenges, relatives described her as creative, brave and full of spirit.

In recent weeks, Jasmine was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St Petersburg, Florida, after developing a severe antibiotic resistant infection in her affected leg. Doctors warned that the infection posed a serious risk to her life and could spread if not urgently addressed. Following extensive medical consultations, the decision was made to amputate the leg as a last resort to save her life.

The complex operation lasted approximately sixteen and a half to seventeen hours. During the procedure, surgeons amputated Jasmine’s leg, which weighed more than 170 pounds. Doctors also removed a tumour from her abdomen as part of the surgery. After the operation, Jasmine’s body weight dropped to about 80 pounds, highlighting the extent of the abnormal growth that had burdened her body for years.

According to her sister, Anastashia Ramirez, Jasmine is recovering steadily and showing signs of improvement each day. She has begun sitting up, moving out of bed and using a wheelchair with assistance. Her family expressed relief and gratitude for the successful outcome of the surgery, describing Jasmine as strong and resilient throughout the ordeal.

To help support the family, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist with mounting medical expenses and daily care needs. The fundraiser has raised more than 16,000 dollars to help Jasmine’s parents, who are providing full time care for her while also supporting their six other children.

Medical experts involved in the case say Jasmine will require continued monitoring and rehabilitation as she adjusts to life after the amputation. They also noted that further research is needed to understand the underlying cause of her condition, as similar cases are extremely rare and poorly documented.

Jasmine remains under close medical supervision as she continues her recovery, with her family and care team hopeful that the surgery marks the beginning of a safer and healthier chapter in her life.