Stella’s journey began unexpectedly at just four months old when a physical therapist noticed she wasn’t moving her left arm as she should, a subtle but concerning sign that prompted her parents, Michelle and Patrick, to seek specialized care.
They were referred to Lurie Children’s Division of Neurology, where Dr. Denis Altman scheduled an MRI that revealed Stella had suffered a prenatal stroke, damaging a large portion of the right side of her brain, a discovery that immediately prepared the family for the challenges ahead.
By seven months, Stella’s struggles escalated when she developed infantile spasms, a severe form of seizure common in infants, causing her eyes to roll back and her arm to stiffen for brief moments.
The seizures multiplied rapidly, reaching up to 300 spasms per day despite trials of various medications, leaving Michelle and Patrick terrified and unsure how to protect their daughter’s development and quality of life.
The Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Lurie Children’s recognized that conventional medical treatment alone wouldn’t suffice and convened their weekly multidisciplinary pediatric epilepsy conference to determine the best course.
Experts including epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, and neuropsychologists reviewed Stella’s case and concluded that a hemispherotomy—the disconnection of the half of her brain where the seizures originated—offered her the best chance at a seizure-free life.
Lurie Children’s is among the few centers worldwide offering minimally invasive endoscopic hemispherotomy, which uses a small surgical opening and a camera to reduce blood loss and speed recovery.
Dr. Sandi Lam, one of only three pediatric neurosurgeons globally performing this procedure endoscopically, led Stella’s operation at nine months old, knowing that her healthy left hemisphere would compensate for many lost functions.
For Michelle and Patrick, the alternative—hundreds of seizures daily—made the decision clear: surgery, though daunting, offered the hope of life uninterrupted by relentless spasms.
Preparation for surgery was meticulous and comprehensive. Daisy Vazquez, Lurie Children’s nurse practitioner and epilepsy surgery program coordinator, served as an advocate and guide, helping the family navigate appointments, understand anticipated needs, and meet with the Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation team.
Meanwhile, anesthesia and operating room teams coordinated carefully to ensure a safe and smooth procedure. On the day of surgery in February 2022, Stella endured over five hours in the operating room, emerging from the procedure under expert care, with her family feeling both anxious and profoundly grateful for the opportunity.
Recovery included intensive inpatient physical therapy at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the top-ranked physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital in the U.S., adjacent to Lurie Children’s. Stella’s therapy focused on rebuilding strength, compensating for her impaired left-hand use, and supporting vision that had been affected by the stroke and surgery.
After three weeks, she returned home and continued occupational and speech therapy on an outpatient basis, gradually achieving milestones that had previously been threatened by the relentless seizures.
By the time Stella celebrated her first birthday in April, her family rejoiced not only in another year of life but also in the extraordinary milestone of three consecutive months seizure-free. Michelle and Patrick reflected on the progress, acknowledging that while Stella still has a road ahead, including ongoing therapy to optimize her motor skills and vision, the success of the hemispherotomy has already given their daughter a gift beyond measure: freedom from seizures.
Stella’s story illustrates the power of multidisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge pediatric neurosurgery, where every team member—from surgeons to therapists—works in concert to create outcomes that change lives. Her parents emphasize the importance of expert guidance, advocating for their child, and embracing each moment as it comes, understanding that progress often comes gradually but is deeply rewarding.
Today, Stella’s days are filled with laughter, learning, and playful exploration, a stark contrast to the early months of uncertainty and relentless seizures. Her bright smile, resilient spirit, and developmental progress are a testament to her courage and to the dedication of the Lurie Children’s team that guided her from a critical diagnosis to a thriving, happy toddler.
Each therapy session, each follow-up visit, and each milestone reached reinforces the profound impact of specialized care delivered with empathy and precision.
Beyond her personal triumphs, Stella represents hope for families facing similarly rare and complex neurological challenges. Her successful hemispherotomy demonstrates how early intervention, expert surgical technique, and coordinated rehabilitation can alter the trajectory of a child’s life, transforming fear and uncertainty into opportunity and achievement.
Her journey inspires other families to pursue specialized care and remain steadfast in advocating for their children’s well-being.
Michelle and Patrick continue to cherish every day, seeing in Stella not only the remarkable outcome of medical innovation but also the joy and potential of a child who has been given a second chance at normal development. Stella’s story is one of resilience, courage, and the transformative power of a team committed to pediatric health, reminding the world that with expertise, hope, and perseverance, children can overcome challenges that once seemed insurmountable.
The Foleys’ experience with Lurie Children’s demonstrates that rare neurological conditions, when met with timely intervention and comprehensive care, need not define a child’s future.
Stella’s milestones, from first steps to first words, are living proof that even complex congenital brain injuries can be met with treatments that allow children to not only survive but flourish. Her progress serves as a beacon for other families navigating similar journeys, showing that with the right expertise, support, and dedication, children can reclaim their childhood and thrive.
Stella’s parents often reflect on the fear and uncertainty of her early months but now focus on gratitude and celebration. Every smile, every moment of play, and every day free of seizures reinforces the invaluable work of pediatric specialists and the hope they offer. Stella’s bright future, full of laughter and milestones, is the living outcome of precise surgical care, ongoing rehabilitation, and a community that refuses to give up on its youngest patients.