Bride Has Dream Wedding After Lifesaving Surgery to Remove 40-Lb. Tumor: ‘I Feel Like a New Person’

A bride’s dream wedding came true following life-saving surgery to remove a 40-pound tumor

Ariana Pulido tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend, Jeffrey Chavez, just over a year after she underwent a lifesaving surgery to remove a 40-lb. tumor. Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center confirmed the news in a release obtained by PEOPLE, revealing that doctors successfully removed the mass during a 14-hour operation.

Pulido had been diagnosed with a rare condition called growing teratoma syndrome, where tumor tissue grows rapidly and uncontrollably, pressing on vital organs like the heart and lungs. Initially, a tumor the size of a small basketball on her right ovary was removed, followed by another from her left ovary three months later. However, a third tumor, the largest at about 14 centimeters near her liver, proved to be particularly challenging. Efforts to shrink it were unsuccessful, and despite chemotherapy, the tumor continued to grow at an alarming rate.

By May 2024, the tumor had reached a staggering 40 lbs., pressing against Pulido’s right lung and shifting her heart to an unusual position under her armpit. She was wheelchair-bound and reliant on oxygen due to the tumor’s impact on her body. Pulido’s original medical team faced challenges during the surgery, forcing them to halt the procedure after multiple attempts to remove the tumor.

Seeking a solution, Pulido turned to Dr. Cristina Ferrone, the chair of the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Ferrone assembled a skilled team that successfully removed the tumor in a complex 14-hour operation. Within a week of the surgery, Pulido’s lungs expanded fully, and her heart returned to its normal position. After six months of being dependent on oxygen, she was able to breathe independently once again.

In an unexpected twist during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2024, Jeffrey Chavez proposed to Pulido, her loyal companion throughout her health ordeal. The couple exchanged vows on June 21, just over a year after Pulido’s life-saving surgery, surrounded by close family and friends. Pulido’s post-surgery perspective is nothing short of transformative: “I feel really good. I feel like a new person. I see the world differently,” expressing a newfound positivity in her outlook on life.

Pulido’s story serves as a beacon of hope and resilience, showcasing the power of love and medical expertise in overcoming life’s most challenging obstacles. The journey from battling a life-threatening tumor to celebrating a joyous wedding is a testament to Pulido’s strength and the unwavering support of her loved ones. We wish Ariana Pulido and Jeffrey Chavez a lifetime of love and happiness as they embark on this new chapter together.

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This news piece highlights an inspiring journey of overcoming adversity and celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. The transformative impact of life-saving surgery and the power of love are central themes in this heartwarming story.