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 EDMOND, Okla. -- It was a routine procedure that turned into so much more for Journee Woodard. 
 
 The 11-year-old was up for a routine cleaning, when hygienist, Rachel Stroble, noticed something odd about Journee's pearly whites. 
 
 But she wasn't looking at her teeth... She was looking in her eyes. 
 
 "She said you know, Journee's eyes look yellow," said Dr. Michael Chandler, Journee's dentist . "She asked me to take a look, I took a look and said that does look abnormal." 
 
 Dr. Chandler informed Journee's mom, who took her to a doctor. Little did they know she'd be fighting for her life just days later. 
 
 A website, headlined Journee's Journey, has chronicled the days after the dental visit. 
 
 The website explains: 
 
 "Friday she underwent a 9 hour surgery to remove a grapefruit-size tumor. Surgeons performed "Whipple Procedure", a major operation that removed part of her pancreas, stomach, gall bladder and part of the intestine." 
 
 Dr. Chandler, who's known Journee for years, says his office is wrapped up in her recovery. 
 
 "I didn't feel like there was anything I could do to help, which is one of the harder things," said Dr. Chandler. "Journee's mother has called the office a few times...she's been very grateful, she's posted it on social media." 
 
 But the doctor is quick to point out that he and his crew were simply being diligent and doing their job. 
 
 "It's hard to feel like I'm a hero." 
 
 The crew took a quick break with KFOR today, to send a recovering Journee a message. 
 
 "You've got a lot of people who love you, a lot of people that care for you, we wish you well," said Chandler. "I'll be praying for you." 
 
 Journee's Journey explains that the family is currently waiting for test results on the tumor. 
 
 The website also includes a link to donate to the family. 
 
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 Imagine taking your little girl to the dentist on a Wednesday morning for a routine cleaning, and by the following Friday, she is fighting for her life after a 9 hour surgery. That's exactly what happened to our daughter, Journee this week. 
 
 
 
 Wednesday morning January 28th 2015, our dentist Dr. Chandler and hygentist Rachel Stroble said they were concerned because the whites of her eyes seemed yellow. We took her to the doctor for blood tests and an ultrasound, which then lead to both a CAT Scan and MRI the doctors found a mass on her liver and pancreas. Thursday February 5th 2015 she was admitted to University of Oklahoma Childrens' Hospital, and Friday she underwent a 9+ hour surgery to remove a grapefruit-size tumor. Surgeons performed a "Whipple Procedure", a major operation that removed part of her pancreas, stomach, liver, gall bladder and part of the intestine. 
 
 
 
 She will be in the ICU for at least the next 7 to 10; during that time, both her dad and I will be by her side. Neither of our jobs offers paid time off. We are completely without any income to cover expenses for our other three kids, and any other funds raised will go to pay any medical expenses that her insurance won't cover, tutors and living expenses for lost time at work. We truly appreciate every little bit. It will help us keep the focused on getting Journee back to health! THANK YOU!!
– Sometimes, that trip to the dentist pays off in unexpected ways. When 11-year-old Journee Woodard went in for her checkup in Edmond, Okla., a sharp-eyed hygienist noticed that her eyes looked yellow, reports KFOR-TV. The dentist agreed, informed the family, and a trip to the doctor revealed the reason: Journee had a tumor on her liver and pancreas. Doctors have removed it, along with parts of the girl's pancreas, stomach, and gall bladder, and Journee is recovering in the hospital, the family writes on their YouCaring fundraising page, which has raised more than $20,000 so far. An update on the fundraising page yesterday explains that doctors have told the family the mass they removed is not cancerous, and Journee was expected to go home soon. "Journee is so happy and lights up every time we share comments that you all have left," the update reads. "Her words today: 'I guess I'm pretty famous huh?'" Dentist Michael Chandler tells the TV station, in a message to Journee: “You’ve got a lot of people who love you, a lot of people that care for you, we wish you well. I’ll be praying for you.” (A 4-year-old named after a car crash victim may also have saved her dad's life recently.)