Eschbacher's surgery said successful

PSHS principal had tumor removed

By Michael Erb
PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg South High School Principal Tom Eschbacher successfully went through surgery Wednesday to remove a tumor from his brain and is expected to make a full recovery.

Eschbacher was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital last week after he collapsed and suffered a seizure. Doctors discovered a 5-6 inch tumor near the speech center of his brain and scheduled surgery for Wednesday morning to remove the mass.

The growth was removed without incident and Eschbacher was awake and aware throughout the more than 4-hour procedure, according to reports from the family via Wood County Schools officials.

District spokeswoman Sue Woodward said officials received word around 1:40 p.m. Wednesday that Eschbacher had been moved to an intensive care unit following the surgery and was expected to remain in intensive care for the next several days.

"He is awake and responding appropriately," she said. "There was a little malignancy that was removed and they are confident they got the whole thing. There is no followup planned at this time.

"It could not have gone any better," Woodward said.