Greyson Williams
Greyson was only four years old when his mom, Maranda, noticed something alarming: he was having trouble using his left leg and hand. At first, she thought the summer heat was to blame.
“He was playing outside, and it was so hot I thought he might have heat stroke,” she said. “I took him to the emergency department near where we live in Sutton, and they ran some tests and found a brain tumor.”
Local doctors referred the family to WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital for specialty care. Tests there showed that the tumor was causing seizures, as well as weakness on the left side of Greyson’s body. The mass was large — bigger than a golf ball — and required immediate removal.
Because of its size, open surgery was the only option. Surgeons would need to temporarily remove part of Greyson’s skull to access and remove the tumor.
After surgery, Greyson stayed in the hospital for five days, then returned home for outpatient physical and occupational therapy.
Four Years Later, Another Challenge
After his 2020 surgery, Greyson’s seizures stopped, and life returned to normal. He had follow-up scans every six-to-12 months, and for years, everything looked good — until early 2024.
“Greyson’s scan that February showed the tumor was starting to grow back,” Maranda said. “The doctors told us we might have other options besides another open surgery since they caught it so early this time.”
The family was referred to P. David Adelson, MD, the Steve A. Antoline endowed chair for children’s neurosciences, who told them about laser ablation, which uses a precisely guided laser to destroy tumors while sparing healthy tissue. It is far less invasive than traditional brain surgery and often results in a shorter recovery.
Dr. Adelson was the first to perform laser ablation at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s after working with hospital leadership to bring the technology here.
“Before this, families had to travel out of state for laser ablation,” Adelson explained. “Now, WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s offers advanced neurosurgery right here in Morgantown. We’ve treated children from as far away as Colorado and Florida.”
Tiny Incision, Big Difference
Maranda had a long list of questions. Greyson had just one: “When can I start playing baseball again?”
“When kids ask questions like that, it puts everything in perspective,” Adelson said. “Our goal is always to get kids back to being kids. That’s why we’re growing the neurosciences program here — so families in West Virginia have access to the very best care.”
The family was amazed to learn that laser ablation requires only a three-millimeter incision — about the width of a grain of rice — compared to the open surgery Greyson had five years earlier. Even better, he would only need to stay in the hospital for one night.
“It’s so wild to us that this kind of technology is available so close to home,” Maranda said. “After the surgery, Greyson just needed to take it easy for a couple of weeks. He was able to get right back to doing his schoolwork and playing baseball, which was very important to him because the season had already started.”
Care That Feels Like Family
Greyson will continue having follow-up scans. If the tumor grows back, Adelson has a plan in place.“One great thing about ablation is that we can perform it more than once in the same area if needed,” Adelson explained. “It’s minimally invasive and well tolerated, making it an excellent option for Greyson in the future.”
Life is good again for Greyson and his family. As Maranda reflects on the past five years, one word stands out: grateful.“I’m so thankful for Dr. Adelson — he explained everything clearly and kept us informed every step of the way,” she said. “Everyone at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s has treated us like family. From doctors and nurses to the entire staff, the care has been amazing. Having this level of expertise so close to home is just amazing.”