GIRL'S KIDNEY TRANSPLANT HITS A LAST-MINUTE DELAY

PERRYVILLE -- A kidney transplant from a father to his daughter was postponed at the last minute because doctors found what they think is an infection in the father's lung.

The transplant was scheduled for Jan. 9 in St. Louis. But 6-year-old Alisha Schumer of Perryville may now have to wait weeks or months for a her father's kidney, said her mother, Linda Schumer.

When Tom Schumer arrived at St. Louis University Medical Center a day before surgery to remove one of his kidneys, doctors found what they thought was a tumor in his lung, Linda Schumer said. They postponed the transplant and operated on his lung instead.

"They think it is some kind of infection, and right now we don't really know for sure what it is," she said. "All we know is the transplant will be postponed."

The surgery could be rescheduled from one to six months from now, she said.

Meanwhile, Alisha is doing fine, her mother said. The first grader was born with kidney disease; three years ago, she received a kidney from her mother. About one year ago, her body began to reject the kidney, and doctors said a second transplant was needed. This time, her father would be the donor.

The couple has eight other children, ranging in age from 2 to 16.

Linda Schumer said the family will know in about two weeks when the transplant can be rescheduled. Doctors have told them that Tom Schumer can still be the donor despite the lung problem, she said. For now, he is at home recovering from the lung surgery, and Alisha is attending school.

Linda Schumer said the family will be relieved when the surgery is over.

"I just wish there would be no more surprises," she said.