Brave teen risks life with operation to remove half her brain in hope it will end daily seizures
A brave teenager has put herself through an extremely dangerous operation to remove half her brain, with hope it would end her daily seizures.
On September 22, 2015 Karley Miller underwent a hemispherectomy to remove the right side of her brain which had been severely damaged when she suffered a stroke in utero at just 18 weeks.
The stroke led to Karley being born with Cerebral Palsy, suffering from epilepsy and a vision impairment.
Now 17, the Cowra teen told the Daily Mail Australia that she was aware of the risks of the operation such as infection, death, loss of speech and mobility.
However she made the brave decision to go through with it after she suffered a massive nine and a half hour seizure.
“I just had to do it I couldn’t live having seizures anymore,” she said.
“I thought, I am strong I can get through this.”
Before the operation Karley was unable to live a normal life, needing to be under constant surveillance of friends and family every minute of the day.
She longed for independence and the ability to enjoy life as a ‘normal teenager’.
“I couldn’t go anywhere without mum being a few steps behind, I couldn’t even have a shower with the door locked in case I had a seizure and no-one could get to me,” she told the Daily Mail Australia.
Thankfully the incredibly risky operation has paid off.
Four months after Karley’s surgery the operation was deemed ‘all worth it’ as she had been given the all clear.
Karley has since been taken off her anti-convulsion medications.
She has suffered nausea and fluid retention but no seizures.
“I haven’t had any big side effects, just some fluid build-up, but it should go down,” she said.
Karley will have to return to her doctor in July to see if she needs any follow up operations.
