Megan M., Piscataway, NJ
2-years old

Megan was born with a failure to thrive, low birth weight and overall poor muscle tone so Joan Montuori, her foster mother since birth, was accustomed to carefully monitoring her development. In December 1999, Megan stopped putting on weight, she was dehydrated, and her gag reflex was gone. An early biopsy showed that there was a tumor in her brainstem. Her doctors were reluctant to remove the tumor because of its risky location. The tumor continued to grow and she was unable to eat or use her right side.

"In May, after checking out several insurance options, we took Megan to the University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey to see Dr. Carmel and Dr. Schulder," says Joan. "They had just started working with the PoleStar intraoperative MRI and felt that they could help Megan. I thought to myself, "Why wouldn't anybody want the latest advance to help their child?"

On May 17, 2000, in an operation that lasted about nine hours, the PoleStar enabled doctors to confidently proceed with surgery. After the initial resection (tumor removal), the PoleStar's intraoperative scans showed a remaining portion of the tumor that was seen neither with the naked eye nor using an operating microscope. Surgeons were able to remove most of the tumor with a single operation. Within a few months Megan's right arm was moving normally and she was eating well.

"We were thrilled at the outcome and the intraoperative MRI really made a difference. I don't know if it would have gone as well without the PoleStar," adds Joan. "With all the visits and tests Megan has to undergo for all her other health problems, she has developed some anxiety around hospitals. It was a great benefit that so far she only had to have brain surgery once."

Today Megan weighs 28 lb. and is able to walk around. Her favorite toys are her blanket, her sand pail, and her pocketbook. Joan describes Megan as "a little snail -- she keeps making a little bit of progress each day."