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Ryan Walton, 14, of Jacksonville has suffered from seizures nearly all of her young life. While they didn’t happen often, the seizures had the potential to rob her of a normal life that others take for granted: like getting a driver’s license, going away from home to college and living on her own. They could even prevent her dream of becoming a Broadway dancer and choreographer because she is never supposed to be alone and must be closely monitored for seizures.
Ryan’s seizures unexpectedly developed three years after a large benign brain tumor was removed when she was just one year of age, presumably the scar tissue that developed in the right side of her brain caused the seizures. She was put on medications to get her seizures under control.
Even on medication, Ryan still experienced breakthrough seizures...and these seizures were impacting her quality of life. Dr. Harry Abram, her pediatric neurologist with Nemours Children’s Clinic and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, suggested surgery.
Wanting it performed locally, the timing for Ryan’s surgery was fortunate. Nemours and Wolfson had recently recruited pediatric epileptologist Raj Sheth, MD, from the University of Wisconsin, where he ran the Pediatric Epilepsy Center for 13 years. With his expertise and the surgical experience of Wolfson’s pediatric neurosurgeon Philipp Aldana, MD, Ryan would be able to have epilepsy surgery right here in Jacksonville – the very first in Northeast Florida.
On September 30, 2009 Dr. Aldana assisted by pediatric neurosurgeon Ian Heger, MD, and Dr. Sheth used the latest in computer image-guided technology to guide the removal of the section in Ryan’s brain responsible for her seizures. She was discharged from the hospital on October 3, two days earlier than expected and just in time for her 14th birthday celebration on October 4!
“Having the surgery close to home was ideal,” said her father. “It was more convenient, less expensive, and allowed a much smoother transition from surgical procedure to follow-up.” Important also with two other children in school and a job.
Since the surgery, Ryan has had no seizures and is expected to have a normal life. Ryan can’t wait either!
“I am excited to be a regular kid,” she says. “I’m free! Free of seizures! I would really like to thank the doctors and surgeons, and my family, because without them, I don’t know what I’d do. They’re the people who helped through all of this.”
Best of all, Ryan, a dance student at Lavilla School of the Arts, may be able to fulfill her dancing dreams. |
