At Children’s Hospital, ‘they made a difference’ for family
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - March 26 marks Epilepsy Awareness Day, a time when people around the world wear purple and host events in of Epilepsy Awareness.
Here at home, 11-year-old Hadley was born three months early at two and a half pounds. She had Bacterial Meningitis. This affected the right frontal portion of her brain.
“We found out on Christmas Eve,” said Jennifer Mitchell Hadley’s mom. “We had run to get something to eat, and the doctors called us and said they had found it and said she would have to have brain surgery.”
Hadley had brain surgery at two weeks old on Christmas. The neurosurgeon said to be prepared for certain outcomes.
“He said that she would never show any emotions, never have any facial expressions because of this right frontal lobe,” said Mitchell.
That was not the case, and other parts of her brain took over the affected area. Mitchell said Hadley did not experience any seizures while in the hospital but was told it was not a matter of if, but when. The first one happened at two years old.
“The first one she had was like 45 minutes long before they got it stopped,” said Mitchell. “I could not tell you how many she’s had, but it never gets any easier because you never know if she’s going to come out of it. You just don’t know.”
Being from Illinois, Hadley saw other doctors before being referred to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia at nine years old. She had her fourth brain surgery here.
“It was an all-day long surgery, and it worked. She has not had a seizure,” said Mitchell.
They’ve been coming to the Children’s Hospital for about two years and made the move to Augusta after traveling more than nine hours back and forth to appointments.
“It’s actually the whole reason we moved to Augusta was this hospital so she could be close to the doctors, and they made the difference,” said Mitchell. “We have not come across anybody that is short of amazing.”
Hadley has now been cleared to do things she couldn’t before like go to the movies where she recently saw Barbie and try out for sports. Mitchell said Hadley’s latest sleep study came back showing no signs of seizure activity in the brain, which is a first.
To AU Medical Center, head over to the website.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
