The Olympic figure skater, 25, shared an update on her health for her fans on Tuesday, saying that she is “doing a little better” and has been able to go on walks outdoors after doctors removed a malignant tumor from one of her kidneys last month.
Maia revealed to fans in acandid Instagram postlast month that doctors had discovered a mass on her kidney after she visited the emergency room in October for a stomach virus.
She underwent surgery to remove the abnormality shortly before Christmas.
“The surgery was successful and I was able to keep the rest of my kidney,” she said at the time.
Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images
Five days later, shesharedthat she had received the pathology report, which revealed that the successfully removed tumor was “unfortunately malignant (cancer). (SDH)-deficient renal cell carcinoma.”
“This wasn’t the news I was hoping for, but I am beyond thankful that it was detected early and that my surgery went well,” she said. “No further treatment is required at this time – the next steps are for me to continue focusing on recovering and healing.”
Maia Shibutani.Maia Shibutani/Instagram
On New Year’s Eve, Maia shared some reflections on 2019 and her past decade.
Alex and Maia Shibutani.Ed Rode/Getty Images
Maia’s older brother and skating partner, Alex Shibutani, commented on the post with a string of red heart emojis.
Maia and Alex — who are known as the “Shib Sibs” — helped Team USA clinch the third-medal spot with a paired free dance in 2018’s Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. The duo also took home the ice dance bronze medal at that year’s games.
source: people.com
