Woman with giant tumor rushed to hospital

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Newton County woman with a tumor the size of a beach ball was admitted back into the hospital on Sunday night after suffering from excruciating pain over the weekend. 
 
"When it got to where she couldn't bear it then we called 911, her oxygen level was low," said Doris Lewis' daughter, Serena Lewis.
 
Since Channel 2 Action News first reported this story on Thursday, family member said the tumor has grown even larger.
 
"Her stomach is really large. It is larger. Her skin is about to pop," said Lewis' brother, Roy Pettaway.
 
Several hours after being admitted to Emory University Hospital on Clifton Road on Sunday night, Lewis was released because her oxygen and vital signs improved, according to family members.  Lewis is scheduled for surgery on June 10.
 
Lewis said at first there was no urgency to obtain insurance after her husband died but then a huge tumor started growing inside her and she realized not having insurance presented a huge problem.
 
"It's getting bigger every day," Lewis said. "I can feel it on my body. My heart hurts a little bit."
 
The tumor has been inside Lewis for two months and has reached the size of a beach ball.
 
"I didn't know it was a tumor in there. I thought I was just gaining weight at first," Lewis said.
 
Lewis told Jones that doctors are amazed when they see her.
 
"Some of the guys looked at me and said, 'You got a tumor in there. That is so big. 'Bout to pop,'" Lewis said.
 
She said a doctor told her the tumor is benign and it is wrapped around her ovaries.
 
Lewis said she has tried to get doctors to remove it, but no one would do the surgery because of some miscommunication and because she didn't have insurance.
 
"I've been trying to get insurance for the longest time but had no success," Lewis said.
 
The tumor has her family very concerned.
 
"I don't know how long that she has to be able to live with this thing in her," said daughter Sarina Lewis.
 
Lewis said she was in so much pain, she called 911 one day and ended up at Emory University Hospital midtown. That's where a doctor told her not to worry.
 
"He said, 'You will see a doctor without money,'" Lewis told Jones.
 
Now she has a surgery date, a date she hopes will take a lot of weight off her shoulders.
 
"It would feel great, now, if I could get it out today. Right now. It would be a blessing," Lewis said.
 
She told Jones doctors say they have never seen a tumor that size. The surgery date is set for June 10.
 
Lewis is asking everyone to pray for her.

Anyone that would like to make a monetary donation to help Lewis, can do so by going to any Wells Fargo branch with donations made payable to the Doris Lewis Fund.

WSBTV