Surgery for tumor successful

Community donations helped pay for facial operations for Syracuse girl, 13.

Friday, March 23, 2007

By Cammi Clark

Staff writer

Jessica Musone, of Syracuse, made it through nearly four hours of surgery Monday to remove a tumor from her face, her mother said.

"She came through fine and was home (Tuesday)," Tammy Musone said of her 13-year-old daughter, who has the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis.

In January, the family struggled with how to raise the money for Jessica's two-part, $50,000 surgery. But through a flood of community donations, fundraisers, doctors' assistance and some help from insurance, the surgery was paid in full Monday, Musone said.

Donations from the community and fundraisers brought in about $10,000, according to Jessica's aunt, Tina McCarthy, of Lakeport.

The Musones plan to donate any leftover money from donations to Charity for Children, based in Cicero, which financially assists Central New York families of chronically ill children.

The Musones credit the charity with donating the money for a first appointment with Dr. Barry Zide, a specialist in New York City who performed Jessica's surgeries.

Jessica will have a follow-up appointment with Zide in about a week. Doctors and nurses in Syracuse will take out her drains and staples, Tammy Musone said.

"Unfortunately, she's not done with surgeries," Musone said. "But the rest of it should be reconstructive."