EDEN, Weber County — When Britta Peterson watched her 16-year-old son Alden compete in the district track finals on May 2, she felt pride and gratitude for what he was experiencing. After all, seeing her son excel in athletics wasn’t even a consideration nearly three years ago when Alden was diagnosed with brain cancer.
Alden, who was in seventh grade at Snowcrest Jr. High in August 2021, had a persistent headache and showed signs of neurological deterioration. After a CT scan, it was discovered that he had a large mass in his brain: a rare malignant tumor called anaplastic astrocytoma.
Due to the aggressiveness of the cancer, Alden underwent his first surgery within 24 hours of his diagnosis. That turned into another surgery and then another. Peterson remembers those first days full of unknowns.
Alden Peterson photographed in the hospital while receiving treatment for brain cancer. (Photo: Britta Peterson)
“When we got the diagnosis, it was 2 a.m. on a Monday and a little over 24 hours later, he was in surgery and they did two surgeries almost a week apart,” Peterson recalled. “They removed most of the tumor and then had to let some of the inflammation recede and do another MRI to see its condition.”
That MRI showed there was still more tumor, but it surrounded the main motor nerves. The first two surgeries left Alden with some paralysis, and doctors concluded that he would be completely paralyzed if they tried to remove more.
Doctors left that part of the tumor in Alden’s brain and began radiation treatments in September of that year, followed by chemotherapy in January 2022, to treat it. Over the next two years, he would endure 24 cycles of treatment, having completed the last one last March, just in time for track season.
“Nothing less than a miracle”
Due to rigorous treatments that also included physical therapy to regain strength in his arms and legs due to paralysis, Alden missed the entire eighth grade year. However, according to her mother, she picked up right where she left off, academically and socially. What surprised Peterson most was his son’s ability to excel in athletics, going so far as to call it a miracle.
Alden spoke more about his surprise at finding a sport he liked than his ability to compete, and said he has never been a big sports fan.
“I’m not a big fan of most sports,” Alden said. “But then I started doing track and field because it was something I liked, and at least I’m going to continue doing field events because I like them, maybe not the running part.”
Alden competes in the javelin, shot put, discus, long jump and high jump, and says he hopes to try pole vaulting when he goes to high school, even though he still has some weakness in his left hand.
Alden Peterson, who is in remission from brain cancer, throws the discus at a recent track meet. (Photo: Britta Peterson)
“My motor skills haven’t fully returned,” the teen told KSL.com. “I have most of my gross motor skills, but my left arm is a little weaker than the other.”
Alden showed no signs of slowing down at the recent district meet, finishing in the middle of the standings in all of its field events.
“He’s an average athlete, whose scores generally fall in the middle or slightly above the middle,” Peterson said. “But his ability to even be able to compete after recovering from paralysis… is nothing short of a miracle.”
Now that track season is over, Alden has a lot more to look forward to, including spending the summer with friends and enjoying his other favorite hobby, which is building Legos.
This, his mother said, is “another story entirely,” adding that she is very happy to see her son enjoying a full life.
While there are currently no signs of cancer, Alden still takes three types of chemotherapy every morning, in tablet form, and is currently in remission as he waits to begin his high school years at NUAMES (Academy of Mathematics, Engineering and Human Sciences). Northern Utah). Science) this fall.
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