Jul 23, 2008 11:29 pm US/Eastern
Jessie Continues On The Road To Recovery
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Six-year-old Jessie Hall is, in many eyes, a miracle. The North Texas little girl came to Baltimore last month to have half of her brain removed at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Now, just six weeks later, she is well on the road to recovery.
"Look at her. She's doing great," said an emotional Cris Hall, Jessie's father.
At first glance, Jessie may appear weak. But when you consider what she's been through, you realize this little girl has strength beyond her years.
Denise Koch first met Jessie in May when she and her parents, Cris and Kristi Hall, came to Baltimore to meet world-renowned pediatric surgeon, Dr. Ben Carson.
"When he walked in the door, we expected him to be 12 feet tall with a red cape. You know Superman," Kristi told WJZ. "It was just wonderful to meet him and know that he was going to be Jessie's surgeon."
On June 11, Dr. Carson and his team removed the right half of Jessie's brain. This radical surgery was the only cure for a rare neurological disease called Rasmussen's encephalitis. The disease's symptoms began with seizures and twitching. Without treatment, it would have eventually killed her.
"Look, I have a scar here," Jessie said as she pointed to the top of her shaved head.
With the battle wounds to prove it, Jessie survived her surgery and quickly regained her spunk. Her therapy at Kennedy Krieger has been extensive, painful and sometimes frustrating. Jessie must now train the remaining part of her brain to take over all the functions the right half controlled.
Johns Hopkins brought this Texas family to Baltimore. But their experiences here have taught them they now have a second home.
"I didn't know exactly where Baltimore was a year ago," Cris told WJZ. "Not only did we get a lesson in geography, we got a lesson in human nature. It's just been an amazing experience."
Five weeks after leaving the operating room, Jessie boarded a plane and left to be closer to home, friends and family. Now, it's on to the Children's Hospital in Fort Worth where she will continue therapy. But consider this. After losing half her brain, Jessie has no memory loss, no speech or cognitive loss and the same spunky personality.
What Jessie Hall has gained is a future, and a whole new gang of friends in Maryland.
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