May 9, 2007
WREG

“19 Month Old Fights Tumor As Her Parents Fight War”

Casey Brookhyser has made a career of protecting others while serving in the Army. But all that training couldn’t prepare her for protecting her daughter Natalie from the tumor growing inside 19-month-old’s brain.

Natalie had a rare tumor growing above the area of the brain that controls motor skills. The family from Ft. Campbell, Ky. called neurosurgeons all over the country after a physician at another children’s hospital left them with little hope. Casey says the signs were clear what the next steps would be. “Everyone said you need to go see Dr. [Frederick] Boop at Le Bonheur,” she said.

During an interview with WREG Channel 3 on May 9, little Natalie took her first steps since the three surgeries to remove the tumor and control her seizures. The moment caught on camera, brought Casey to tears. “I am happy. I think once I get her home, she’ll be on the road to recovery,” Casey said.

Watch the entire interview with WREG’s April Thompson: