Day 3:
On Tuesday, June 30th, 2026, the surgery teams performed 15 operations. One of these was for Alison, a twenty-year-old patient coming for the removal of four cutaneous dermoid cysts. Alison had lived with the benign growths for years, located near her elbow, her neck, and on both sides of her face. As she sat in the waiting room, shy Alison began to open up about what this surgery meant to her.
Alison was made fun of in school because of her cysts, which were even more prominent when she was younger and smaller in size. Some children even called the lump in her neck “monstrous.” Unfortunately, the bullying she endured was a large contributor to her decision to drop out of school five years ago.
Alison’s mother, Miriam, reported that they saw a doctor six years ago who told them there was nothing that could be done. Miriam decided to bring Allison to Hospital Hilario Galindo in December because she has “always heard great things about the hospital.”
After receiving a surgical appointment this week, “Alison was very excited and happy.” Alison has recently returned to school and is in the same grade as her fifteen-year-old sister. In the waiting room, she said she was feeling tense and anxious, but she was able to relax more after talking. She is hoping that her surgery will help her to gain more confidence.
Alison is recovering well from a successful removal of all four cysts. Please pray that Alison’s self-esteem would grow as she completes the remaining three years of high school. And please continue to pray for the surgery teams throughout this week as they perform life-changing operations for patients like sweet Allison.
Rae Dabdoub
Team Blogger/Photographer, Farrow Surgery 913
