A very bold decision was made by doctors from Southern California in the United States to curb the devastating brain disease from which a 6-year-old girl suffers.
The girl was struggling with a rare brain disease and the surgeons who treated her decided to "disconnect" one side of her brain to treat her.
The goal of the medical team after treatment is for the child to be "the same person and live a normal life."
Brianna Bodley was diagnosed last year with a rare brain disease
Brianna Bodley suffered daily seizures from Rasmussen's encephalitis – a chronic inflammation of the brain that can lead to permanent brain damage and impaired motor skills, but a 10-hour surgery may have been the lifeline to defeat RE.
Instead of removing part of her brain, as doctors used to do, pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Robison, of Loma Linda University Health, said shutting down half of her brain was the most effective method.
"Just disconnecting it is enough to completely stop the disease and essentially, possibly cure it," her doctor told KABC.
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Brianna was diagnosed with the debilitating disease last year, leaving the girl who used to sing, dance and read to suffer daily.
"Her leg kept bending and she was having trouble walking," said the girl's mother Crystal Bodley.
When she started taking anti-seizure drugs and steroids, she quickly gained weight and continued to deal with the progressive disease.
With the disconnection of half of the brain, the doctors are waiting for the full recovery of the 6-year-old
"She would talk to me sometimes and tell me she was scared, but I would tell her, 'I know it's scary, but you're going to be okay,'" said her sister Torie Bodley.
The doctors decided to turn off the non-functioning part of her brain. The left side still works. Doctors said the girl may lose some of her vision and some fine motor skills in her left hand, but physical therapy will help her get back to what she was before.
"Brianna will remain the same person, even after half her brain is disconnected," said Robison.
The Bodley family through Instagram informs about the development of the girl's health after the operation that took place near the end of September. A few days ago, her mother reported that she was walking with help, and on Sunday the child was awake all day for the first time since the operation.
"I am happy that my baby is back and awake. He is still working on his balance and learning to walk. Finding things on the left is difficult for her. She doesn't understand that there is nothing there unless we tell her. Her pain is under control and almost gone,” her mom said on Instagram.
The post included a photo of the girl's head with stitches, as well as images of her playing games and trying to walk with help.
"I just want to see little Brianna running around and having fun like she always does," said her grandmother Chris Breheim.
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