Boy Once Facing 10 Seizures a Day Now Living Medication-Free Life After UC Davis Health Epilepsy Surgery
A young patient’s remarkable recovery highlights the potential of surgical intervention for severe pediatric epilepsy. Savon Maina, an 8-year-old boy, has been seizure-free and off all medication for over a year following a successful surgery at UC Davis Health, a transformation his doctors describe as “unstoppable.”
For years, Savon’s life was defined by debilitating seizures. He frequently required emergency room visits due to injuries sustained during these episodes. Despite being on four different medications, Savon experienced up to 10 seizures daily, accompanied by distressing symptoms like stuttering, nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
“There were four different medicines, and they impacted him very negatively,” explained Savon’s father, Francis Kageche. The medications also triggered behavioral changes, leading to aggression towards his brother, including instances of pinching, scratching, and biting. Savon also struggled with attention and speech difficulties.
The family and medical team initially attributed these challenges to a combination of factors – the medications themselves, the uncontrolled seizures, and a previous brain injury.Recognizing the need for a more definitive solution, Trishna Kantamneni, a pediatric epileptologist at UC Davis Health who leads Savon’s team of specialists and directs pediatric epilepsy care in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, initiated an evaluation for epilepsy surgery. This offered Savon the possibility of a life free from seizures and the burden of daily medication.
Did you know?-Epilepsy affects approximately 1 in 26 people worldwide at some point in their lives, making it a common neurological disorder.
The evaluation process involved several days in the hospital’s epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU), where Savon’s seizures were continuously monitored and recorded for detailed analysis. A team of five pediatric epileptologists,alongside colleagues from neurological surgery and neuropsychology,collaboratively reviewed Savon’s case. They unanimously recommended surgery performed by Julia Sharma, a pediatric neurosurgeon specializing in epilepsy treatment.
the surgery, completed in spring 2023, proved to be a resounding success, providing Savon with immediate relief from his seizures. However, the journey didn’t end there. The next phase involved a carefully managed process of gradually reducing and ultimately eliminating Savon’s medications.
Pro tip:-Careful medication tapering is crucial after epilepsy surgery. Reducing dosages slowly, under a doctor’s guidance, minimizes the risk of seizure recurrence.
“Typically, we wait for a few months after surgery to see how a person responds,” Kantamneni explained. “If they are doing well and show no signs of seizures, then we begin to peel back one medicine at a time.”
With Kantamneni’s expert guidance and the unwavering support of his family, savon successfully discontinued each medication over several months.Today,he remains medication-free for more than a year.
“Everything changed for Savon the moment the seizures went away,” Kantamneni saeid. “When the family comes to the clinic now, it’s just gorgeous.”
Kageche expressed immense pride in his son’s recovery, noting notable improvements in his academic performance. “His teachers have reported tremendous performance,” he said. “His reading, speech and writing have improved. So has his mobility.”
reader question:-What questions would you ask a doctor considering epilepsy surgery for a child?
Savon hims
