The 15-year-old girl Vietnamese girl whose face was disfigured by a 16-pound tumor has finally regained her life.  In a 12-hour operation, surgeons at the University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Medical Center removed the Schwannoma tumor, which was threatening to block the girl’s airways.

“At this point the tumor is growing back into the throat,” said Dr. Jesus Gomez before the surgery, according to CBS 4.

Lai Thu Dao was suffering from a Schwannoma tumor since she was three. As it became bigger and bigger, the tumor gradually consumed the lower part of her face, making normal tasks such as talking, eating, drinking and sleeping to become increasingly difficult. Moreover, the girl had never been to school.

The tumor could have been removed years ago, but Lai had little access to medical care where she lived, leaving the tumor to disfigure her.

Surgeons who operated on Lai said her tumor was extremely rare and it likely wouldn’t return once removed, the Associated Press reported. These types of tumors are usually benign.

After recovery, Lai will be able to go to school and catch up on her adolescence’s activity.

The International Kids Fund, which helps foreign children with urgent health needs, is trying to gather up donations to help fund the girl’s surgery through its Web site.