As Lola grew, her neurology team worked relentlessly to find new pathways that would help her manage her debilitating epilepsy. But over time, they discovered her epilepsy was resistant to medication. That didn’t stop them. Lola’s team believed in a better future for her, so with input from over 20 experts at BC Children’s—and the family’s steadfast belief in their daughter’s resilience—they put forward a transformational plan: Lola would receive a functional hemispherotomy. This major brain surgery would disconnect the left hemisphere of her brain from her right, putting an end to her seizures entirely.
Lola went forward with the surgery, fiery hope in her family’s hearts. But post-surgery, Lola had a new mountain to climb: a recovery period that would last months. It wouldn’t be easy, because Lola needed to re-learn how to use the left side of her body without the help of her brain’s right hemisphere.
But every step of the way, Lola had world-leading experts from across BC Children’s campus supporting her. She also had the steadfast, ongoing support of monthly donors. “To know that thousands of strangers are providing continuous support to the hospital, helping kids like my daughter, is overwhelming in the best way,” said Lola’s mom, Bev. To name just a few things, donor support fuels epilepsy research, critical programs like Child Life and rehabilitation equipment like wheelchairs.
It wasn’t easy, but Lola took things day by day. Soon, she wasn’t just walking again. She was running.
Fast forward to today, and Lola is back at home and attending kindergarten. She still makes regular visits to BC Children’s for various therapy sessions, and for checkups with her neurology team, but she continues to amaze those around her with her physical and neurodevelopmental progress. And best of all? She hasn’t had a single seizure since her operation.
The hope Lola and her family feel is possible because of the steadfast, continuous support of their BC Children’s care teams—and monthly donors, who stand with kids day after day. For kids like Lola, who require ongoing care from BC Children’s, this support makes all the difference.