A Mexican boy who had surgery in New Mexico to remove part of a massive tumor is living with his family in suburban Albuquerque while he awaits further treatment.
"The father was granted a one-year temporary work visa,"
Kristean Alcocer of First Baptist Church of Rio Rancho told The Associated Press. "He is thankful for the financial help he has thus far received but as he told Gov. Martinez, he wants to be able to provide for his family."
Church members are extending their support, including helping the family buy a used van and assisting them with renting a home in Rio Rancho, the AP said.
Jose Antonio Ramirez Serrano, 11, was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital last year where doctors began to remove a watermelon-sized tumor from his neck and upper body. Federal agents helped the boy find care, and he was brought to the U.S. from Ciudad Juarez after church members saw him during a missionary trip.
The boy got widespread attention last year after stories and images went viral.
Donations gathered during a two-year charitable effort have paid for the
boy’s medical treatment and related expenses, Reuters reported.
Jose was born with the growth, known as a lymphangioma. It started out about the size of a golf ball and grew to the size of a football,
UPI reported. It was removed during a 12-hour surgery.
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