test_cronJobPublishJan21

test_cronJobPublishJan21

Mick Jones: Bless your child. As before, it's a fear to lay outside the pavilion. Mellissa Medalie: Bedtime is dad's special time with his two boys. Mick Jones: Is this what you'll show me. Mellissa Medalie: But this night is special. Soon, Mick Jones goes into surgery. Mick Jones: It's actually been a blessing to find it early, because they say it just keeps on growing. Mellissa Medalie: Mick's esophagus is closing up. He has a non-cancerous tumor wrapping itself around it, making it almost impossible for Mick to eat. Mick Jones: When it goes down, you get a pain down in the base. Mellissa Medalie: That's the tumor on the right side of the spine. Dr. Michael Gomez: It's a tumor that, if you don't take it out, will increase in size and eventually, it will obstruct his esophagus completely. Mellissa Medalie: Cameras are inside the operating room when doctors attempt for the first time in the US to remove a tumor with a robot. Dr. Michael Gomez: This is a mass underneath this. Mellissa Medalie: Five small incisions are made, connecting the machine outside to robotic hands inside. A problem in the middle of surgery -- every time Dr. Miguel Gomez grabs the tumor, a piece breaks off. Dr. Miguel Gomez: We passed a suture through the middle of the tumor twice and then used that suture for leverage against the tumor. Mellissa Medalie: Once the tumor is loose, a net-like device is inserted to pull it out. Female Speaker: Well, that is huge. Dr. Miguel Gomez: We initially thought that the tumor would only be 5 centimeters in size, but it turned out to be about 10 centimeters in size. Mellissa Medalie: Traditional surgery would involve a large incision of 8 to 10 inches between the ribs, dividing muscles, spreading the rib cage to get to the tumor. With the robot-assisted surgery, just five tiny incisions, no muscle cutting or rib splitting, taking recovery for Mick from two months to two weeks. Mick Jones: I noticed after the first day, eating has been phenomenally more easier. Mellissa Medalie: Bringing back family dinner to the Jones table. I am Elisa Medley reporting.