13-Year-Old Girl On The Mend After Brain Surgery
(CBS) -- Myrah Felters was a cheerleader, dancer and track star when she started experiencing severe headaches. Soon after, doctors found a tumor in her cerebellum. After surgery and three months of rehabilitation at La Rabida Children's Hospital, she's been given the clear to go back to school and to return to the cheerleading she loves.
"I'm excited. The tumor took away my balance and I couldn't do much. I couldn't do jumping jacks. Now, I can do cartwheels and flips again," said Felters.
Her father Maurice Felters says she endured hours of therapy every day and she's made amazing progress in a short period of time.
"It's scary for any parent to see your child not able to walk and find out it's a tumor so it's the greatest moment of my life that she's able to get back up and get back to school."
Myrah also worked with an occupational therapist and speech language pathologist to regain motor and language skills. Her doctors says she's still working on her balance but should be back on the court cheering for Joseph Warren Elementary by February.
"Children's brains tend to recovery very nicely and fortunately the tumor was in a location were it was easily resected and the brain could begin the process of healing so she's not great. She still has a little bit of a balance issue but overall she's doing beautifully," said Dr. Lisa Thorton.
Myrah's ultimate goal is to return to full health by Spring, and create a dance routine as part of her application for The Chicago High School for the Arts, which she hopes to attend.