Baby koala hugs mom as she undergoes life-saving surgery

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A six-month-old koala named Phantom is melting hearts around the world after a picture surfaced of him hugging his momma koala tenderly as she goes through emergency surgery at Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

The mother koala, named Lizzy by the vet staff, suffered a collapsed lung after being hit by a car and needed to have it drained. The Courier Mail reports that the two were run down by a car on the Warrego Highway at Coominya. Fortunately, neither suffered any broken bones and little Phantom escaped with no injuries.

While Lizzy was being operated on, Phantom is seen holding her chin with his tiny little paw throughout the entire procedure. He sticks by her side as she recovers, even climbing on her head while his mommy rests.

Veterinarians say Lizzy is on her way to a full recovery.

"Lizzy is in recovery and we're happy to say she is doing well," said hospital vet nurse Jamie-Lynn Nevers.

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Samantha Jordan