A TEENAGER with a brain tumour has been given a glimmer of hope after finding out about a pioneering new treatment in America.

Jess Taylor, 13, from Marlow, was diagnosed with the tumour last August but first suffered symptoms a few years ago. Jess's mother Karen, 32, said: "It's taken time to get a prognosis. She's undergone three major surgeries, one of which caused her to have a minor stroke."

Now, however, there is fresh hope, after the family heard about a potentially life-saving operation in America through a charity called the Brain Trust.

Mrs Taylor said: "I can't really search the internet too much because all of the stuff on there is just too upsetting so it's my dad who's been the one doing the searching. He managed to find out about the Brain Trust.

"It raises money to send families over to the United States to have the operation performed. It costs about £40,000."

The technology works by using high tech scanning techniques to generate a 3-D map of the patient's brain.

Mrs Taylor said: "It's like a mapping system. The doctor knows exactly where to go and gets the nasty stuff without hitting any important parts."

Jess now needs to wait three months to see if her latest radiography treatment has any effect. If it should prove unsuccessful, the Brain Trust would consider raising the cash required for the operation in America.

In the meantime, schoolgirl, Jess, is supporting a campaign to raise money for a multi-media ward at John Radcliffe Hospital, where she is being treated.

Mrs Taylor said: "It's going fantastically well. We've raised about £25,000 and so have raised our target to £50,000."

The computer room will provide televisions and internet access for youngsters on the ward, who are isolated during cancer treatment. Lonely patients will be able to stay in touch with friends by e-mail and instant messaging."

Jessica's grandfather Derek Huddleston launched charity Jessica Taylor Media Rooms to raise money for the project and has so far been very successful.

A variety of fundraising activities have been going on to boost the campaign.

Best friend, Jessica Watkins, cut her hair short in a pledge of moral support and to raise awareness of the campaign, and Newlands Girls' School in Maidenhead, which Jess attends, has also contributed. Pupils have taken part in a trampoline-athon and non-uniform days.

The family are now more optimistic about the future thanks to the news about the operation and results of MRI scans showing the tumour has not grown.

To make a donation to the project visit http://www.justgiving.com/jessicataylormediarooms