Division of Neurosurgery Patient Stories

One family shares their experience for parents who learn their child has a severe diagnosis before birth

In just two years of life, Lincoln has spent more than 5 months in the hospital overcoming premature birth, brain injury, multiple surgeries and near-death experiences.

AJ’s life was relatively uncomplicated until age 14, when he began to experience unpredictable seizures and received a life-changing diagnosis of epilepsy. Thanks to the combination of a small, battery-powered device surgically implanted into his brain and an oral medication, he is now seizure-free.

 State-of-the-art brain surgery at CHOP reduced Emily’s seizures from 90 per day to zero — it's been life changing for her and her family.

Eva, 2, had two surgeries at CHOP to remove lipomas from her back and treat a tethered spinal cord. Today, she’s a proud big sister!

When spasticity from cerebral palsy made it difficult for Laurel to move, her family turned to CHOP for a life-changing surgical procedure.

Ava has been seizure-free for nearly a year thanks to successful hemispherotomy brain surgery and coordinated care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

A terrible car accident left Sam with a serious brain injury. Therapy and surgery helped him rebound; he’s now able to recite a poem and play his favorite sport.

Conjoined twins Abby and Erin were born connected at the head. After 10 months and multiple surgeries, the girls were separated.