The life of a 10-year-old Kerem Primary pupil has been transformed by the removal of a 3kg tumour from her abdomen.
Eliana Mann’s tumour was discovered in 2009 after her parents Tara and Paul became concerned that she was not eating and was constantly tired. Mr Mann also noticed that Eliana’s feet had not grown and that her stomach was unusually hard.
Surgeon Edward Kiely told the BBC that doctors found a “benign tumour” which “grows relentlessly”. Attempts were made to shrink the tumour over the next 18 months through chemotherapy but it continued to grow, taking up 50 per cent of her abdomen.
Last July, the tumour was removed in pieces in a nine-hour operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The Manns, members of Finchley Synagogue, were featured this week in a BBC2 documentary series about the hospital.
Mrs Mann said her daughter was now “a new child”, adding: “We didn’t really have much option — it was a life-saving operation.”
Back at school and growing stronger, Eliana will take part in Sunday’s Maccabi-organised Community Fun Run with her older sister and thee younger brothers in aid of British Friends of Tikva Odessa.
“She’s really getting on well with ev-erything at school,” Mr Mann said. “We couldn’t be happier. She will be off to Hasmonean next year.” Kerem had been “very supportive of her”.