Cherokee Tribune

Kim Stewart of Woodstock adjusts the pillows and blankets for her daughter, Sidney, 11, as she recovers from a brain tumor operation that took place in December at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital.

Cherokee Tribune

Sidney Stewart, 11, is taken care of by her mother, Kim Stewart, of Woodstock and her grandmother Susie Stamper of Christiansburg at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "With all Sidney's complications, it's hard to tell how long it will take" for recovery, Kim Stewart said.

Cherokee Tribune

Kim Stewart of Woodstock adjusts the pillows and blankets for her daughter, Sidney, 11, as she recovers from a brain tumor operation that took place in December at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital.

Get involved

• For updates on Sidney Stewart's medical condition visit caringbridge.com/visit/sidneystewart
• Contributions can be made to the Sidney Elizabeth Stewart Medical Fund at any Bank of America. Inform the teller it is a Georgia account.

Cherokee Tribune

Sidney Stewart, 11, is taken care of by her mother, Kim Stewart, of Woodstock and her grandmother Susie Stamper of Christiansburg at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. “With all Sidney's complications, it's hard to tell how long it will take” for recovery, Kim Stewart said.

"Dad, you need to take me to the hospital. I think I have a brain tumor."

When 11-year-old Sidney Stewart said that last Thanksgiving, her father, Donald Stewart, a Christiansburg native, told her not to say things like that because they weren't funny.

But as Sidney's headaches grew worse, the family, including Donald, Sidney, mother Kim, a Riner native, and 15-year-old Devan, soon cut short their Thanksgiving visit to the New River Valley.

Sidney had been having headaches for a few months, but they were becoming more severe and frequent, said Donald Stewart, who now lives in Ackworth, Ga.

"She kept complaining about headaches, and held her whole neck sideways," Antoinette Stewart, Sidney's paternal grandmother, said of that Thanksgiving.

Sidney was also walking with her back arched and tummy stuck out, which was unusual because she was very athletic, said Antoinette Stewart, of Christiansburg.

"It just wasn't like Sidney at all.".

The diagnosis

On Nov. 27, an MRI at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta confirmed that Sidney had cancer in the form of a tumor on her brain stem about the size of a tennis ball.

"Maybe it was some power beyond us," Donald Stewart said. "It's like she had a sense or something. She knew."

The tumor, called a medulloblastoma, is a very aggressive kind of cancer that spreads to the body through the spine.

She went into surgery on Nov. 29 to drain the fluid from ventricles in her brain. On Dec. 3 she had a second surgery to remove the tumor, where her doctor found a second tumor about the size of a quarter on her brain stem.

Both tumors were successfully removed and Sidney's spinal fluid was negative for cancer cells, meaning the cancer would be less likely to spread or return after rigorous radiation and chemotherapy, Kim Stewart said.

A hospital spokesperson said Sidney's doctor, Andrew Reisner, was unavailable to comment.

Sidney was able to speak and move after the second surgery, her mother said. But two days later, a rare complication called posterior fossa syndrome, set in, causing an inability to speak or move.

Over the next weeks, Sidney suffered from consistently high heart rates, high blood pressure and spasms. Her heart stopped beating Dec. 10. Doctors were able to get her heart beating again on its own after about five minutes.

X-rays confirmed she had holes in her intestines, leading to a third emergency surgery. Over the next two months, blood loss and other complications led to a total of nine surgeries.

'We're split now'

There are still 48 weeks left of cancer treatment, and Sidney is still suffering from posterior fossa syndrome, Kim Stewart said.

Kim has stayed with Sidney in the hospital each night since the first surgery while Donald has been running his courier business and staying home with their oldest child, Devan.

"We're split now," Stewart said. "I've got the fort here, and [Kim's] got the fort there."

Stewart and Devan make the 30-mile trip to the hospital as often as possible.

"It's been very difficult on everyone," Kim Stewart said. "We're trying to keep [Devan's] life as normal as possible and keep him active in sports and school and with his friends, even though we're going through this."

They've even sneaked Sidney's 110-pound pet pig Penny into the hospital, wheeling her through the hospital in a red wagon covered with a blanket.

"I'm just waiting for the day she says "daddy" again," her father said, choking up. "I don't take anything for granted anymore."

The prognosis

There isn't a documented case of permanent posterior fossa syndrome, Kim Stewart said, but it can take weeks or years to recover.

"With all Sidney's complications, it's hard to tell how long it will take," she said.

The small things, such as movement in Sidney's left hand and a small noise that sounded something like "mama" last week are cause for celebration.

Sidney's years as the top competitive gymnast in Georgia in her age group, and competitive cheerleading have left her body strong, which will help her recover, Stewart said.

"We have faith, and I know she will recover. It's just a matter of time," Kim Stewart said.

Faith and prayers have also been sustaining the family since she lost her job as an insurance agent. The federal Family Medical Leave Act protected her job for three months, ending Feb. 21. Because Stewart is self-employed, the family now has no health insurance.

It was hard for Kim Stewart to work before Sidney became ill because of a kidney disease that has racked her body for nearly 12 years, causing kidney stones, joint pain and infections.

"Stress just makes it worse, so I couldn't work if I wanted to," Kim Stewart said. "Everything happens for a reason. We're trying to get that under control, but right now it's my job to support her."

It doesn't matter if they're paying Sidney's medical bills off forever, Stewart said. The family's priority is getting her better, even though treatment is running at more than $1 million and climbing.

"I can't fathom what we're going to do, and I don't care," Stewart said.

To help offset costs, their Georgia community has rallied, with Sidney's school raising $12,000 at a Valentine's dance called "Hearts for Sidney" and a family friend establishing an account called the Sidney Elizabeth Stewart Medical Fund.

"She was just the happiest child, and so talented," Antoinette Stewart said. "We were always a close family ... and it's just ..." her voice trailing off.

"It's so hard."