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Like many parents, San Antonio residents Richard and Heather Delaney almost skipped their daughter Kylie¡¯s annual checkup. The 8-year-old seemed healthy and wasn¡¯t due for immunizations. But Heather decidedto keep the appointment, anyway.

¡°Looking back, I¡¯m so glad I did,¡± she says.

During Kylie¡¯s checkup, the pediatrician noticed an unusual mass in the girl¡¯s middle ear and referred her to a nearby hospital for further testing.

The result? Kylie was diagnosed with a rare, noncancerous bone tumor called an osteoblastoma. These tumors usually develop in the bones of the spine, legs, hands and feet. But Kylie¡¯s tumor was located in her temporal bone, which encloses the ear.

¡°Only 35 cases of this tumor type have ever been documented, and Kylie is one of the youngest patients ever,¡± says , a neurotologist and skull base tumor surgeon at MD Anderson.

The Delaneys, doctors themselves, selected Gidley to perform their daughter¡¯s surgery.

¡°After speaking with the skull base tumor experts at MD Anderson, we knew this was the place for Kylie,¡± Heather says. ¡°And, when we came to stay in the MD Anderson Rotary House Hotel, everyone was so nice ¨C it just felt right.¡±

¡°Plus, it was so close to San Antonio, which made it very convenient for us,¡± adds Richard.

Before surgery, the couple met with Gidley and neurosurgeon , co-director of the Skull Base Tumor Program. The doctors would work together to remove the portion of the tumor near Kylie¡¯s brain.

¡°They were thorough, knowledgeable and answered all of our questions,¡± Richard says. ¡°As a physician, I really appreciated that.¡±

Before surgery, Heather shaved Kylie¡¯s favorite stuffed animal ¨C a kitten ¨C to match Kylie¡¯s pre-surgical haircut. Gidley and DeMonte successfully removed Kylie¡¯s entire tumor, and the only remnant of her disease is mild hearing loss.

¡°I¡¯m so grateful we took Kylie for her checkup,¡± says her mom. ¡°If we had waited one more year, the tumor could have grown into her brain.¡±

Gidley also points to the important role Kylie¡¯s annual exam played in the discovery of her tumor.

¡°The fact that her pediatrician completed a thorough checkup and recognized the abnormality makes her the hero in this story,¡± Gidley says.