A routine dentist visit led to the discovery of a grapefruit-sized tumor in an 11-year-old Edmond, Oklahoma, girl.
Hygienist Rachel Stroble noticed that Journee Woodard’s eyes looked yellow and
called it to dentist Michael Chandler’s attention, KFOR-TV reported.
Her mother took the girl to the doctor.
After a battery of tests, Journee underwent a nine-hour surgery at University of Oklahoma Childrens' Hospital to remove the mass on her liver and pancreas, according to a
Web page set up to raise money for the girl’s medical expenses.
Journee’s mother, Anna Woodard, posted an update to the website Thursday, saying the mass was found to be noncancerous.
“Journee made some amazing progress today, although she is still in the hospital she got up out of bed and walked to the window today for her physical therapist,” Woodard wrote.
Journee’s parents are taking time off without pay to be with her, the website said. They have three other children.
“It's been a whirlwind, it's been up and down, a lot of emotion,”
Anna Woodard told KWTV. “It's hard seeing her like that,” she added.