Surgeons remove over 90% of 2-year-old's brain tumor

Surgeons at Barcelona's Sant Joan de Déu hospital were able to remove over 90% of two-year-old Oliver's brain tumor on Wednesday, as announced by the health center.

A team of 15 professionals from the center took part in the 10-hour operation.

The young patient is currently in the pediatric ICU, where he is recovering as expected.

Medical professionals are now studying the tumor at a molecular level, as these findings will determine the most adequate treatment for him. 

The child had traveled from Mexico, where he resides with his parents, after being diagnosed with an Ependymoma on October 13 and given only 15 days to live if he did not receive treatment.

"We are trapped in Mexico as Oliver cannot fly until he undergoes a contrast MRI and doctors drain the liquid in his head," the family shared on social media on October 18. His condition worsened and Oliver stopped eating, speaking, and walking. 

His parents, who are Spanish, preferred to have him treated in Spain, and after a call on social media for help, an anonymous €196,400 donation covered the cost of a medicalized plane that landed in Barcelona.

Oliver had his first surgery on Friday at Barcelona's Sant Joan de Déu hospital, which allowed doctors to implant a valve to control intracranial hypertension.

Sant Joan de Déu hospital is considered one of the leading pediatric health centers in Spain and in Europe.