Young Girl With Tumor On Road To Recovery
POSTED: Tuesday, March 1, 2005
A Ruth to the Rescue story continues to capture metro Detroit's heart. Now, it's been two years since viewers saw Lexie Hiett and much has changed.
When Local 4 first met Lexie, she looked like a baby, even though she was 2 ½ years old. A non-cancerous tumor was taking over her face and it took up so much blood, her immune system and her heart were very weak.
"She's been kind of robbed of her infancy, because she's been in the hospital all the time No one realized how close to death Lexie was," said Christine Hiett.
Lexie Hiett's grandfather first contacted Local 4's Ruth Spencer and her Ruth to the Rescue unit to help the girl find transportation to Arkansas Children's Hospital, and world-renowned Hemingioma specialist Dr. Milton Waner. Because of her medical condition, including a weakened immune system, Lexie could not travel by commercial jet, or sit in a child safety car seat. Ruth to the Rescue was able to get Lexie and her parents a free ride to Little Rock on Angel Flight, a network of private pilots and their planes.
Lexie endured years of intense chemotherapy and heart medication. Previously, all the features on one side of Lexie's face were erased by the tumor, but after 20 surgeries her facial features are starting to show.
Chemotherapy helped to shrink Lexie's tumor and relieve the strain on her heart.
She has many more surgeries, which will help to reconstruct her face, but doctors believe there will be a day when the tumor is no longer the biggest issue in Lexie and her family's lives.
Lexie is nearly 5 years old and stronger than ever, but right now her biggest need is eye care.
Ruth to the Rescue contacted D.O.C. eyewear. They agreed to help Lexie with custom-made glasses and they'll make her new ones when she needs them after changes from upcoming surgeries.
Copyright 2005 by
ClickOnDetroit.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.
Send Lexie Get Well Wishes @ 
A local man's poker face may help him win $8.5 million in cash Monday at the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas.
Police in Ann Arbor say they are looking for a group of four to 10 people who are responsible for the beating a 19-year-old University of Michigan student.
Marine biologists have figured out why a growing number of dead harbor porpoises have been found on California beaches in recent years: dolphin attacks.
The community and family of a 5-year-old South Lyon boy with cancer are celebrating Christmas this weekend.
Two-time Oscar-nominated actor James Woods has sued a Rhode Island hospital over the 2006 death of his younger brother.
He's a hometown boy made good but with some dark secrets. The Defenders reveal more on Dan Gilbert's hidden deal with Kwame Kilpatrick and an arrest he might not want you to know about.
Livonia police said thieves are first breaking into cars at the Livonia AMC theater and then targeting the victim's home.
Local 4's Paula Tutman becomes a target of a Facebook scam as she is reporting on Facebook security.
See the beauty of Michigan's most colorful season!
An American bulldog in Illinois gives birth to 21 puppies.
Unbelievable pictures of the damage left behind when a pumpkin is thrown through a windshield.
The 13 people killed when an Army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, included several people who shared the same profession as the alleged shooter. Here is a look at the victims.
Top-dollar designs don't always provide a good return for the rich and famous. Check out which celebs were caught in fashion flops.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
