PITTSBURGH -- A Pittsburgh teenager is preparing to begin his high school career with a new outlook on life after being the first child to undergo a new operation at Children's Hospital to remove a tumor.

"Everyone knew me as the kid with the tumor and I just wanted that over with. I didn't want to be known as the one that had the problem," said Travis Stangroom.

But it was equally hard for mother Amy Stangroom.

"That always hurt. He would get upset about that, but I'm so glad that he knows that he's not that anymore," said Amy Stangroom.

After experiencing trouble walking, a small tumor was found in Travis Stangroom's brain.

Seeking treatment, Stangroom, 14, was the first child to undergo a procedure to remove the tumor at Children's Hospital in Lawrenceville.

For the first time at Children's Hospital, doctors were able to make a small incision behind Stangroom's right ear above the tumor and essentially suck the tumor out rather than entering through the skull.

"It would have been a bigger approach and put him at risk for brain swelling and more complications for post operative course," said pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ian Pollock.

Stangroom agreed.

"If they would have hit any part of the brain, they said I could have had facial twitches or hand problems with movements, so I think it was much safer," said Stangroom.

The method Stangroom underwent -- known as endoport guided tumor resection -- reduces the risk of brain injury and recovery time.

He was released from the hospital in three days, but has found memories because of a visit from Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu when he was first diagnosed.

The two exchanged phone numbers and Polamalu still calls periodically to see how Stangroom is doing.

"It's exciting when we see 'Polamalu, Troy' on the caller ID, but it always puts smile.. Always works out that that's when Travis needs to be uplifted," said Amy Stangroom.

Travis Stangroom's surgery was on July 7 and doctors say everything looks good.

He'll have another MRI in three months.