On June 11, Hunter Cavanaugh, the 6-year-old profiled in last week’s cover story, underwent the second in a series of quality-of-life surgeries being performed to manage a rare genetic disease that causes severe benign tumor growth in his face, head and neck. Hunter’s parents report that the surgery, in which excess tissue was removed from between his eyes, was successful, and that as of press time Tuesday, he was “doing fine.” On May 1, the state switched Hunter off of straight Medicaid and onto a MetroPlus Medicaid Managed Care plan, which, on the Friday afternoon before Monday’s procedure, the Cavanaughs were informed would not cover the surgery. Reporters made calls to MetroPlus that afternoon, and Hunter’s mother, Bianca, contacted Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s office. Just before the close of business Friday, the insurance issue was sorted out, allowing the surgery to proceed in the nick of time. Bianca now reports that the state has switched Hunter back onto straight Medicaid, which is needed to cover his vast medical expenses, and that an official told her he never should have been taken off Medicaid in the first place. Next, doctors will explore ways to eliminate the tracheostomy tube that Hunter currently needs to breathe.