Kennedy chose Mozart of brain surgeons

It was a Friday afternoon, and Dr. Allan Friedman was headed for a vacation in Canada when his cell phone rang.

Sen. Ted Kennedy, newly diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, had searched the nation for the best neurosurgeon to remove the growth -- and he wanted Friedman.

By the following Monday, a horde of reporters was camped outside Duke Medical Center, and Friedman was performing a tricky operation inside the brain of one of the country's most powerful politicians. It was at once an honor and a burden for a man who has spent 34 years building a reputation as one of the world's leading brain surgeons.

A successful surgery would be a boon to his career and to Duke. But the slightest mistake or problem would be scrutinized by the nation.

Fortunately, as a man who spends four days a week slicing into brains, Friedman is used to pressure. Kennedy's surgery was successful. And now, after hiding from the media during the initial frenzy, Friedman has agreed to step out of the shadows.

Friedman, 59, says operating on Kennedy provided a rare brush with celebrity. Kennedy had guards posted in the hallways and was taken to the heliport, away from the glare of cameras, for exercise.