Earlier than Hayden Videan was even born, docs recognized him with hydrocephalus, which causes extra fluid to construct up within the mind. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
When Hayden lastly arrived in July 2007, an MRI revealed he had additionally suffered a stroke. This meant docs must delay surgical procedure for the hydrocephalus. He spent the primary 21 days of his life within the NICU. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Cautious monitoring revealed he had epilepsy, probably from the stroke. By the point Hayden reached 4 months previous, docs decided an excessive amount of fluid had collected in his mind. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
They needed to carry out a ventriculostomy, a process that creates a gap within the mind ventricle to permit fluid to empty out. The products information: It meant Hayden would not want a shunt. (Courtesy picture by Amy Videan)
Hayden had been on seven completely different drugs, some inflicting extreme behavioral uncomfortable side effects. Every new drug required a troublesome interval of titration, which entails the gradual improve and reduce of the drug. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“A few of these drugs modified his persona,” Amy stated. “It was simply such a rollercoaster.” Docs finally decided Hayden’s epilepsy was proof against remedy. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“In the long run, we weighed the potential for extra seizures—which have been inflicting damages—to the potential of a greater high quality of life,” Amy stated. “We simply did not wish to see him maintain dwelling that approach.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Docs carried out a profitable surgical procedure in December 2017. “It was the most effective choice I made in my life,” he stated. Hayden likes to swim, play basketball and fish together with his dad. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
For about 75% of kids battling epilepsy, drugs are sufficient to tame debilitating seizures.
For Hayden Videan, 14, epilepsy took him on a really completely different street.
It led to surgical procedure that radically improved his life.
Even earlier than Hayden’s start, mind surgical procedure loomed as a chance.
In late 2006, his dad and mom, Amy and Vinson Videan, eagerly ready for the start of their new son.
Through the being pregnant, docs recognized the child with hydrocephalus, which causes extra fluid to construct up within the mind. One out of 770 infants will develop the condition, which generally requires surgical procedure.
The Videans tried to prepared themselves for this sudden growth.
When Hayden lastly arrived in July 2007, an MRI revealed he had additionally suffered a stroke. This meant docs must delay surgical procedure for the hydrocephalus.
He spent the primary 21 days of his life within the NICU.
Cautious monitoring revealed he had epilepsy, probably from the stroke.
With surgical procedure quickly on maintain, his well being care workforce began him on anti-seizure drugs.
“Initially, he did properly,” Amy stated.
By the point Hayden reached 4 months previous, nonetheless, docs decided an excessive amount of fluid had collected in his mind. They needed to carry out a ventriculostomy, a process that creates a gap within the mind ventricle to permit fluid to empty out.
The products information? This meant Hayden wouldn’t want a shunt, which itself can result in challenges.
“That was a giant blessing for us,” Amy stated.
Even higher? His seizures abated.
At his 18-month checkup, docs determined to take him off drugs.
Past remedy
By the point Hayden reached kindergarten, his seizures returned. Once more, remedy helped.
Then got here third grade. He started to expertise seizures that proved stubbornly proof against pharmacological assist.
Roughly 2 in 3 youngsters with epilepsy reply to the very first remedy they take, stated pediatric neurologist Seth DeVries, MD, Hayden’s physician at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
“If that medication fails then there’s a couple of 30% likelihood that the second medication will succeed,” Dr. DeVries stated.
That’s excellent news for 75% of sufferers, however not for these remaining.
“There’s a couple of 5% to 10% likelihood that the third medication goes to work,” Dr. DeVries stated. “And if the third medication fails, there’s a 1% to five% likelihood that the fourth medication will.”
And if that fourth medication fails, there’s lower than a 1% likelihood one other medication will work.
Hayden had been on seven completely different drugs, some inflicting extreme behavioral uncomfortable side effects.
Every new drug required a troublesome interval of titration, which entails the gradual improve and reduce of the drug.
“A few of these drugs modified his persona,” Amy stated. “It was simply such a rollercoaster.”
Docs finally decided Hayden’s epilepsy was proof against remedy.
Surgical procedure loomed because the probably choice.
Confidence
A collection of exams helped Hayden’s docs find the exact spot in his mind affected by the stroke.
It appeared to be the supply of his unrelenting seizures. Eradicating that portion of the mind may cease the assaults.
By then, Hayden, coming into fifth grade, struggled by way of a median of 5 to 10 seizures a day.
Amy and Vince confronted a troublesome choice: Ought to they greenlight the key mind surgical procedure, which has inherent threat?
“In the long run, we weighed the potential for extra seizures—which have been inflicting damages—to the potential of a greater high quality of life,” Amy stated. “We simply didn’t wish to see him maintain dwelling that approach.”
Docs carried out the surgical procedure in December 2017.
They hooked up electrodes instantly onto Hayden’s mind, efficiently figuring out the broken portion. They then eliminated a small space of the left anterior temporal lobe.
“That sounds horrifying,” stated Dr. DeVries, who watched the surgical procedure. “However eradicating this small a part of the mind that was inflicting the dangerous issues to occur means good issues can begin to occur.”
Afterward, Hayden nonetheless skilled a number of seizures.
“We had been informed to anticipate that, whereas his mind was reorganizing itself and therapeutic,” Amy stated.
However issues have improved dramatically since.
“He hasn’t had a seizure in three years,” she stated.
It has modified every thing for Hayden.
“He feels a little bit extra assured now as a result of he’s not apprehensive about having a seizure,” Amy stated.
He likes to swim and play basketball, which he does with the Particular Olympics. He’s extra comfortable with different children and he even participated in a faculty Christmas play this 12 months.
Hayden additionally has a 12-year-old sister, Allison. The household enjoys looking, fishing and spending loads of time collectively outside.
“Our life doesn’t revolve round seizures anymore, which supplies him extra freedom,” Amy stated.
Dr. DeVries remembers feeling elated at a follow-up appointment the place he requested Hayden what he thought concerning the operation. Two years had handed because the process.
Hayden didn’t miss a beat.
“It was the most effective choice I made in my life,” he stated.
