By the Numbers: Rare Surgery Saves the Smallest Lives

Kelsey Lucas / Josh Siegel /

This month, The Daily Signal told the remarkable story of Elijah Leffingwell, a 2-year-old miracle child whose life was saved before he was even out of the womb.

Thanks to fetal surgery, a rare procedure available at only a few hospitals around the world, doctors were able to remove a tumor the size of an orange from Elijah’s lung.

>>> Feature Story on Elijah: A Life Saved Before Birth

The infographic below breaks down the basic numbers behind fetal surgery and how many people it’s saved since its creation.

Infographic by Kelsey Harris

Infographic by Kelsey Harris

>>> Related: 46 Touching Photos That Prove Love and Science Work Miracles

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>>> More stories in our Life Pioneers series