Removing Brain Hemisphere Helped Stop Seizures
- 11 years ago
3-year-old Aiden Gallagher had up to a dozen seizures a day until doctors performed a controversial surgery involving the removal of half of his brain.
3-year-old Aiden Gallagher had up to a dozen seizures a day until doctors performed a controversial surgery involving the removal of half of his brain.
Called a hemispherectomy, the procedure involves either completely removing one side of the brain, or taking a portion of it and removing any connections to the other half.
In Aiden’s case, almost the complete extraction of the right side was necessary.
Prior to the surgery, Aiden was not only having an excessive number of seizures, he was losing his capacity for communication.
His father said, “He had forgotten his alphabet. He had forgotten how to count. It was all slipping.”
They were terrified, but soon after the extreme measure was recommended, his parents approved it.
That was years ago, and Aiden has reportedly made huge strides since.
He’s in the fifth grade, plays sports, and lives without the effect of epilepsy.
Recent research confirms that in some cases, the rare surgery can be the best option.
The author of the study said that once the affected part of the brain is removed, the rest will often work around whatever functions were lost.
3-year-old Aiden Gallagher had up to a dozen seizures a day until doctors performed a controversial surgery involving the removal of half of his brain.
Called a hemispherectomy, the procedure involves either completely removing one side of the brain, or taking a portion of it and removing any connections to the other half.
In Aiden’s case, almost the complete extraction of the right side was necessary.
Prior to the surgery, Aiden was not only having an excessive number of seizures, he was losing his capacity for communication.
His father said, “He had forgotten his alphabet. He had forgotten how to count. It was all slipping.”
They were terrified, but soon after the extreme measure was recommended, his parents approved it.
That was years ago, and Aiden has reportedly made huge strides since.
He’s in the fifth grade, plays sports, and lives without the effect of epilepsy.
Recent research confirms that in some cases, the rare surgery can be the best option.
The author of the study said that once the affected part of the brain is removed, the rest will often work around whatever functions were lost.