Woman, 41, Stunned After Doctors Discover a Full-Term Baby Hidden Behind a 22-Pound Tumor She Was Scheduled to Have Removed

When nurse Suze Lopez arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, she believed she was finally facing surgery to remove a massive tumor from her uterus, a growth that had caused her years of pain and growing concern.

Instead, the 41-year-old woman from Bakersfield, California, received news so shocking it completely altered everything she thought she knew about her body.

During standard pre-surgical testing, doctors discovered that Lopez was not only carrying a 22-pound tumor. She was also pregnant.

Lopez, who had given birth once in her early twenties, had spent years trying unsuccessfully to conceive again. Over time, she slowly let go of that dream, especially as the large growth in her uterus continued to expand and worsen her symptoms. Pregnancy felt impossible.

As part of routine preparation for surgery, hospital staff performed a pregnancy test. To everyone’s surprise, it came back positive. Given her age, symptoms, and complex medical history, doctors initially feared something far more serious than pregnancy.

In a statement released by the hospital, Lopez explained, “Because of the large ovarian cyst that had been growing for years, the result could have been a false positive, or even a sign of ovarian cancer.”

In the days that followed, Suze began experiencing severe abdominal pain. Specialists at Cedars-Sinai ordered advanced imaging to better understand what was happening inside her body. What they found left the entire medical team stunned.

Dr. John Ozimek, director of labor and delivery at the hospital, recalled the moment clearly. “Suze was pregnant, but her uterus was empty. A giant benign ovarian cyst, weighing more than 20 pounds, was taking up most of the space.”

What followed was something doctors described as nearly unheard of in modern medicine.

Against extraordinary odds, Suze’s baby had developed entirely outside the uterus. Somehow, the fetus had survived and continued to grow within her abdominal cavity, despite the life-threatening risks.

Dr. Ozimek explained, “We discovered a nearly full-term baby boy confined to a very small area in the abdomen, near the liver, with his buttocks resting against the uterus. A pregnancy developing this far outside the uterus and progressing to near term is extremely rare.”

In an emotional statement shared by Cedars-Sinai, Suze described her disbelief. “I was used to irregular periods and ongoing abdominal discomfort. After 17 years of praying and trying for a second child, I could not believe I was actually pregnant.”

Despite the miraculous nature of the discovery, doctors remained extremely cautious. Abdominal ectopic pregnancies are extraordinarily rare and carry a high risk of death for both mother and baby. Early expectations for survival were low.

Recognizing the danger, the hospital assembled a specialized team of 30 doctors and medical professionals. Their goal was twofold: safely remove the massive tumor and deliver the baby from her abdomen.

Anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Sanchez later revealed that Suze began hemorrhaging severely immediately after her baby was delivered.

However, the team had prepared for this exact scenario. “I had already activated a specialized machine that rapidly delivers blood products,” Sanchez explained. “When seconds matter, preparation saves lives. We transfused 11 units of blood.”

Because of their careful planning and swift response, both mother and baby survived.

Against every medical expectation, Suze gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Ryu. He weighed eight pounds and entered the world alive and well, defying what doctors once believed was possible.

Suze’s husband, Andrew, expressed his gratitude in a heartfelt message. “He is our gift. Ryu and Suze are my miracles. So many prayers have been answered.”

Suze, deeply emotional and grateful, added her own reflection. “I appreciate everything now. Every small thing. Every single day feels like a gift, and I’ll never waste it.

God gave me this baby so he could be an example to the world that miracles still exist. That modern-day miracles truly do happen.”