How Epilepsy Surgery at CHRISTUS Children’s Opened New Doors for Samuel
In March 2024, the Trejo family gathered to celebrate Christmas. This wasn’t about the holiday, but rather a delayed celebration of a hard-fought victory. It was a symbol of the strength, hope, and resilience that carried them through Samuel’s long battle with epilepsy.
In 2005, Samuel had his first seizure at 10 months old. Initially believed to be a febrile seizure triggered by a fever, it seemed like an isolated event. However, at age three, their worst fears returned when Samuel had another seizure, prompting them to see a pediatric neurologist.
I was terrified,
said Marisela Trejo, Samuel’s mother. His seizure felt like it took forever to end.
Family Finds Answers to Unexplained Seizures
After Samuel’s second seizure, Marisela took him to a pediatric neurologist who ordered an electroencephalogram (EEG) to test for epilepsy. The brain scan confirmed the diagnosis, and Samuel began an extensive journey of treatment, including years on medication in an effort to control his seizures, before his journey would eventually lead him to CHRISTUS Children’s.
Samuel was put on medication that successfully prevented seizures for the next decade. However, around age 13, the seizures returned.
We began noticing that if he forgot his medication, didn’t get enough sleep, or got sick, those types of things would trigger another seizure,
said Marisela.
Advanced Epilepsy Care
CHRISTUS Children's Epilepsy Program
At CHRISTUS Children’s, we provide the highest level of evidence-based epilepsy treatment and support to you and your child.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Symptoms and triggers can vary widely among individuals, from brief lapses in consciousness to severe convulsions, influenced by factors like underlying health conditions, lifestyle and genetics.
Signs of epilepsy may include:
- Uncontrollable twitching
- Staring spells with no response to stimulation
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty speaking
- Muscle spasms or body stiffening
Risk factors for epilepsy include:
- Family history
- Head injuries
- Brain tumors
- Certain infections
Treatment for Epilepsy
Epilepsy is commonly treated with medications to control seizures. In some cases, surgery, like resection surgery, may be necessary when medication is not effective.
Deciding on a surgical solution
Samuel was placed on several more medications over the next few years. When these didn’t fully control his seizures, he was referred to the neurology team at CHRISTUS Children’s to determine whether Samuel might be a candidate for resection surgery, a procedure that removes the area of the brain where seizures originate to help control or eliminate them.
Not everyone is a candidate for this type of surgery,
explained Dr. Gustavo Charria-Ortiz. Dr. Charria-Ortiz is the pediatric neurologist with CHRISTUS Children’s Neurosciences Center who treated Samuel. We look for patients whose seizures are not controlled by medication. The seizures must also originate from the same focal point in the brain. Most importantly, that focal point needs to be located away from areas that control vital functions, such as language, memory or motor skills.
Samuel had intracranial electrodes placed in his brain to confirm that his seizures originated from the left side. Once the location was confirmed, Dr. Mark Lee, division chief of pediatric neurosurgery at CHRISTUS Children's, felt confident that Samuel was a candidate for resection surgery.
By carefully removing the portion of the brain where the seizures originate, we aim to eliminate or significantly reduce the frequency of seizures while preserving critical brain functions,
Dr. Lee said. It’s a highly specialized procedure and one of the most common surgical treatments for epilepsy when medication fails to control seizures.
Dr. Lee and the team at CHRISTUS Children’s thoroughly explained the potential risks of brain surgery to the Trejo family, including the possibility of memory or language problems and muscle weakness, ensuring they were fully informed before making any decisions.
Being qualified for surgery was a miracle for us,
said Marisela. We knew there were risks, but seizures had risks too. During one of his last seizures, he’d fallen and hit his head. Seizures limited Samuel’s future. With this, he had a chance.
Samuel’s Resection Surgery
In December 2023, Dr. Lee performed the resection surgery on the left frontoparietal region of Samuel’s brain. The procedure was followed by several weeks of inpatient rehabilitation to help retrain and strengthen the muscles on the right side of his body. Samuel missed Christmas Day with his extended family, but Marisela said it was worth it.
Our immediate family opened presents at the hospital,
said Marisela. The nurses and staff were very kind and did their best to help make the holiday special.
Samuel was discharged in early 2024, and the Trejo family celebrated Christmas together in March.
They wanted to wait for Samuel,
said Marisela. It meant a lot having that extra family support.
While there is a small chance Samuel could have a seizure within the first year following the surgery, so far he is seizure-free. He continues to see Dr. Charria-Ortiz regularly, as he is gradually weaned off of his seizure medication.
That’s the final hurdle,
said Marisela.
It’s a final hurdle that will also open new possibilities for Samuel. Now 19 years old and focused on finishing high school, Marisela says he has one big goal in mind.
He wants to drive, and his doctors say it might be possible,
said Marisela. So I know he’s really excited about that. We are grateful for the wonderful care that Samuel received at CHRISTUS Children’s. He definitely has a bright future ahead of him.
Learn more about CHRISTUS Children's Neurosciences Center here.
