Sidney Stewart, Six Months Later

In March, we brought you the special story about local resident Sidney Stewart, who had been battling cancer and other health issues since November, 2007. Sidney was 11 years old and in the sixth grade at Chapman Intermediate School when it was discovered that she had a brain tumor; she underwent surgery in December. A secondary tumor was discovered during surgery and both were found to be cancerous.

Sidney developed multiple complications after the surgery including Posterior Fossa Syndrome, which left her unable to speak or move her body.

A lot of positive things have happened with Sidney over the past six months. After seven long months, Sidney was released from the hospital in July and permitted to go home. Her mom Kim recalled a milestone in Sidney’s progress. “Several weeks after Sidney came home, her cousins came for a visit, and one of them asked Sidney a question. For the fi rst time in many months, Sidney was able to speak, and she’s been progressing ever since,” she said. In fact, Sidney can speak and move her extremities quite well. She’s quiet and soft spoken, but in her eyes, you see the spark of the girl she used to be and will be again, undoubtedly.

Sidney currently is being tutored at home and according to her teacher, Sidney is very bright. She’s at grade level, which is seventh grade now. Kim noted that even when Sidney couldn’t speak or move, she was very “there” cognitively, which proved to be very frustrating to Sidney. Kim noted they never hid anything from Sidney regarding her cancer or treatment, neither did the doctors. However, due to her Syndrome, she was unable to ask any questions herself, and she later told her mom, “It was like being tortured.”

Because Sidney is still unable to walk, her split-level home needed to accommodate Sidney’s needs. Southeastern Restoration donated time and talent to make that happen. They built an elevator shaft and widened the doors to accommodate Sidney’s wheelchair. Kim noted that Sheriff Roger Garrison sponsored a Golf Tournament and a majority of the proceeds benefitted Sidney, which in turn, allowed the family to purchase the elevator.

Coming home and being able to speak and move are huge steps for Sidney in her recovery process, but her journey is far from over. In total, this young lady will endure 55 weeks of treatment. “Her cancer was aggressive so her treatment has to be aggressive,” said Kim. From now until February, Sidney will undergo some rough chemotherapy. She will be in treatment for three weeks and then off for three weeks, allowing her body to heal. Then, with a different form of chemo, she will be in treatment for two weeks and recover for two weeks. She still has a fight ahead of her, but her doctors say that her type of cancer is treatable and she has an 80 percent chance of surviving it.

When Sidney is feeling well, she likes to do what most girls her age do, socialize. In fact, over the Labor Day weekend, Sidney had several sleepovers with her friends, and they would laugh and have a great time, just like old times, recalled Kim.

Sidney’s brother Devan remains a solid support for his little sister. He is currently a sophomore at Etowah High School and plays baseball year around. Kim said that in addition to the community giving Sidney a lot of support and prayers, the same is done for Devan who worried for months, and still does, about his sister.

And what about Sidney’s beloved pet pig, Penny? She’s still around and according to Sidney, she’s approximately 120 pounds. The day we visited, Penny was lounging on the back porch in the sun.

Kim is eternally grateful to the community, not only the one we live in but worldwide, for the support and prayers offered to their family. “We’ve heard from people all over the world regarding Sidney, and we could never have made it as far as we have without the support and prayers of everyone,” she said. This ordeal has brought the Stewart family closer, made their faith stronger and allowed them not to take even the little things for granted. When Sidney came out of the Posterior Fossa Syndrome, we were told that the chances of coming out and speaking fl uently were one in a million,” said Kim. When you meet Sidney and see the strength not only in this tiny, young lady but in her family as well, you know, you’re looking at one in a million.