Teen has surgery for brain tumor

Sahara Aldridge's family hopes they might have finally beaten the brain-stem tumor that has ravaged her body for more than a year -- and that the tumor isn't what doctors originally thought it was -- after seeking treatment from a West Coast neurosurgeon.

Sahara's parents, Shannon and Amy Aldridge of Cape Gir­ardeau, weren't available for comment via cell phone Thursday, but Sahara's blog, www.saharaaldridge.com, has been giving those concerned about the 13-year-old's progress updates throughout the week.

The blog is administered by Aldridge family friend Pamela Yaeger of Long Island, N.Y., who stays in contact with the family on a regular basis. Yaeger updated the blog Wednesday, reporting Sahara had made it out of surgery to remove the tumor at an unidentified West Coast facility.

"She did beautifully -- her blood pressure was steady throughout, and although she's still on a ventilator, her lungs are strong and healthy," Yaeger wrote on a blog posted at 7:14 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday.

Aldridge was diagnosed last summer with a glioblastoma tumor, a rapidly growing, dangerous form of cancer. Doctors originally told the family the tumor was inoperable, but the Aldridge's sought out a neurosurgeon with a different opinion: that the tumor on her brain stem, or most of it, could be removed with surgery.

"After searching for what seemed like an eternity, we finally found the surgeon we've been looking for ... the one who is going to take that evil tumor out of our sweet girl's head," Sahara's mother, Amy, typed in a message to blog readers Sunday.

In the post, Amy Aldridge said the surgeon examined the case and determined the tumor could be a "lower-grade astrocytoma."

According to an article by Dr. Tobey MacDonald, a children's neuro-oncology specialist as George Washington University, posted on emedicine.com, a low-grade astrocytoma is often treatable by surgical removal.

According to Sahara's blog, doctors had already determined Wednesday afternoon that the tumor wasn't the more dangerous glioblastoma it was originally thought to be.

Since the news was posted, dozens of comments have poured in on Sahara's blog expressing excitement at the good news and hopes for a speedy and complete recovery. Sahara's story has gained national and global attention, thanks in large part to her family's friendship with pop music and soap opera star Rick Springfield. When he heard news of Sahara's tumor last year, Springfield issued a call to his fans for financial and spiritual support for the family and performed a benefit concert in December at the Show Me Center.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182