Title: Six-Year-Old Girl Undergoes Revolutionary Surgery to Disconnect Half of Brain, Offers Hope for Rare Disease
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: Los Angeles, California
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — In a groundbreaking medical procedure, pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Robison at Loma Linda University Health spent 10 meticulous hours disconnecting half of six-year-old Brianna Bodley’s brain, offering hope and potential cure for her rare condition.
Brianna, from San Bernardino, California, was diagnosed with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects only around 500 children in the U.S. annually. The disease gradually led to debilitating seizures, learning disabilities, and paralysis, drastically changing the life of the once vibrant young girl who used to love singing, dancing, and reading.
As the seizures and inflammation damaged a side of Brianna’s brain, it resulted in the brain shrinking, causing severe physical difficulties. Her left leg would constantly bend, making it challenging for her to walk. Despite receiving treatment with anti-seizure medications and steroids, her condition continued to worsen.
Dr. Robison explained that the best option for Brianna was to disconnect half of her brain, effectively stopping the disease and potentially offering a cure. In the past, doctors would have removed half of the brain, but this method often led to complications.
Using an innovative technique, Dr. Robison was able to disconnect the nonfunctioning part of Brianna’s brain through the brain’s natural opening called the sylvian fissure. By cutting away the white matter from the thalamus, the process effectively halted the disease’s progression.
While Brianna’s left side of the brain now takes over the functions previously carried out by the right side, doctors assure that she will continue to live a full life with the remaining half. Although she may experience some peripheral vision loss and fine motor skill difficulties in her left hand, it is expected that with physical therapy, Brianna will regain her former capabilities and live a seizure-free life.
“Brianna will still be the same person, even after disconnecting half her brain,” Dr. Robison confidently stated.
Brianna’s family and loved ones expressed their overwhelming relief and excitement at the prospect of her returning to her normal life. Her sister, Torie Bodley, shared that Brianna had expressed fear but assured her that everything would be okay.
“I just want to see her little Brianna running around doing her artwork and having the fun she always had,” said her grandmother, Chris Breheim.
The groundbreaking procedure performed on young Brianna offers hope for countless children facing similar conditions, providing a glimmer of light in their otherwise challenging medical journeys. With advances in medical science, these innovative techniques continue to pave the way for new treatment possibilities and promising outcomes.
As Brianna commences her recovery, her story serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of children and the miracles that modern medicine can achieve.