Fund Set Up For Haitian Girl In Need Of Surgery

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A campaign has been launched to raise money for a Haitian infant in need of urgent medical care here in South Florida.

Seven month old Wideberla Pierre was born with a large mass under her left arm and side. She was diagnosed with a congenital lymphangioma, a malformation of the lymphatic vessels that produces an abnormal growth.

The tumor, the size of a cantaloupe, prevents Pierre from reaching key developmental infant stages such as crawling.

While not immediately fatal, there are major risks associated with this kind of tumor.

"Week to week this mass can be larger or smaller, and one of the risks associated with this mass is that it can get infected," explained UM plastic surgeon Dr. Morad Askari.

Dr. Askari said the condition prevents her from sitting down for any extended period of time and though the tumor is not cancerous, Dr Askari said if left untreated her heart could give out.

The Jackson Health Foundation's International Kid's Fund  (IKF) is working to raise $95,000 dollars for the radiology treatments and complex plastic surgeries little Wideberla desperately needs.

Pierre's family does not have medical insurance and since she is not a U.S. resident, Jackson Health System cannot use taxpayer dollars to pay for the procedure.  However, they can offer medical services to IKF at reduced rates.

"If we do see good reaction from those medications we will do several treatments and when we're sure that this mass is not going to shrink anymore, that's when we will resort to surgery," said Dr. Askari.

Roseni Michel, the girl's mother, is hoping South Florida will reach out to save her little girl.

"She only wants the best for her daughter. she's hoping everybody will see what she's going through and help her because right now she has no money, the most that anybody can give just to have her daughter have a normal life," said the translator for Wideberla's mother.

If you would like to help, you can make a donation at wonderfund.org. or you can call the fund 1-877-453-5437.