A groundbreaking brain surgery in San Antonio has brought remarkable relief to 3-year-old Reagan Cross, who was previously suffering from up to 200 seizures a day.
When Reagan was just a year old, she faced a severe medical crisis. For six to eight months, she endured hundreds of seizures each day. Her condition was identified as hemimegaloencephaly, a rare congenital disorder where one hemisphere of the brain is abnormally developed. Additionally, cortical dysplasia had caused the right side of her brain to cease functioning entirely.
Dr. Mark Lee from Christus Children’s Hospital explained, “During her evaluation, we found that one hemisphere of Reagan’s brain was significantly abnormal.” In the past, treating such conditions would have required removing the entire damaged half of the brain.
Fortunately, advancements in medical technology now allow for a less invasive approach. “With modern techniques, we can disconnect the abnormal hemisphere through a much smaller incision,” Dr. Lee noted. “The affected half of the brain remains, but it is no longer connected to the functional parts.”
Given the ineffectiveness of anti-seizure medications for her condition, the surgical intervention was deemed necessary. Dr. Lee performed the surgery by making a reverse question mark-shaped incision and creating a window in the skull to access and repair the brain lobe.
The results of the surgery were swift and impressive. “She immediately stopped having seizures,” Dr. Lee said. The new surgical approach also reduced blood loss and minimized the risk of complications like water on the brain, which often requires a shunt.
This five-hour surgery has significantly improved Reagan’s health and quality of life, offering both her and her family a new lease on life.
