Jun 23, 2008 6:50 pm US/Eastern
Jessie Makes Move To Kennedy Krieger For Rehab
Reporting
Adam May
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Little Jessie Hall has touched and amazed people all over the world after having half her brain removed at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
Now, Jessie is moving on, leaving that hospital and taking the next step.
Adam May reports the six-year-old's skull is scarred and stapled after undergoing a rare surgery earlier this month to treat Rasmussen's encephalitis. The neurological disease was destroying the right half of her brain, so that half was removed.
Now, Jessie is saying her goodbyes to fellow patient Macy and her other friends. She's leaving the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
"It feels one step closer to being home. It means we're not digressing, and that's a good feeling," said Cris Hall, Jessie's father.
Jessie's story touched many hearts in Baltimore, but her journey here is far from over.
Down the bright halls and through an underground tunnel in her wheelchair, followed by a wagon overflowing with cards, toys and gifts, some from total strangers who saw her story, Jessie arrived at the Kennedy Krieger Institute for rehab.
"Now they're healthy enough to be in a setting like this, and so we'll try to normalize life as much as much as it can be at this point; having her dressed in normal clothes, up and out of bed, off to therapy," said Jim Christensen with Kennedy Krieger.
Doctors say that therapy schedule will be rigorous, but will be disguised often as games or playtime.
Jessie's personality is already back, and her mother thinks her little girl is prepared for the road ahead.
"It will be a lot of work for her. Some of it she won't like, but all and all, it's all good," said Kristi Hall.
The Halls have started a foundation to educate people about this rare disease and support other families going through it. It's called "Pray For Jessie."
There was recently parade for Jessie in Texas to bring more awareness of her story and for the JHH Scholarship and Hemi Foundation.
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