Dylan’s Story: A Path to Seizure Freedom Through Advanced Epilepsy Surgery

A Brave Decision at 20 Years Old

At just 20 years old, Dylan made an incredibly brave decision, together with her parents: to take a semester off from college and pursue surgical treatment for her epilepsy. Today, she’s doing great and getting ready to head back to school for the fall semester.

Dylan’s journey reflects something our team at Long Island Neurosurgical Associates (LINA) sees often but that many patients and families don’t yet know: epilepsy is not always something people simply have to live with. For many patients, advanced surgical treatments can dramatically improve quality of life and, in carefully selected cases, even offer a path to seizure freedom.

The Referral

Dylan was referred to Dr. Shaun D. Rodgers by Dr. J. Boockvar and Dr. Derek Chong. This kind of coordinated, physician-to-physician referral is common in complex epilepsy cases, where a team of specialists works together to determine whether a patient is a candidate for surgical treatment and, if so, which approach offers the best chance of success.

A Carefully Planned Treatment Journey

Every epilepsy surgery journey begins with identifying exactly where in the brain a patient’s seizures originate. For Dylan, this involved a step-by-step, minimally invasive approach:

Step 1: Robotic Stereotactic SEEG

The first step was robotic stereotactic stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), a precise mapping procedure that allows the surgical team to pinpoint the exact area or areas of the brain where seizure activity begins. This detailed mapping is what makes it possible to plan the safest and most effective next steps in treatment.

Step 2: Minimally Invasive LITT

Based on what the SEEG mapping revealed, Dylan underwent Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), a minimally invasive procedure that uses focused laser energy, guided by real-time MRI, to treat the specific area identified as the source of her seizures. Because LITT is performed through a very small opening rather than traditional open surgery, it can offer a shorter recovery compared to more invasive approaches.

Step 3: RNS Implantation

Dylan’s treatment plan also included implantation of a Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) device. RNS works by continuously monitoring brain activity and delivering a responsive signal when it detects the earliest signs of a seizure, helping to prevent seizures before they fully develop. For carefully selected patients, RNS can be an important part of a comprehensive, long-term treatment strategy.

A Smooth Recovery

Dylan’s recovery from this multi-step treatment journey went smoothly, and she is grateful to be back to living life and pursuing her dreams. She is preparing to return to college for the fall semester, a milestone that reflects both her own courage and the careful, coordinated planning behind her treatment.

Why Dylan Is Sharing Her Story

Dylan hopes her story helps raise awareness that epilepsy is not always something people simply have to live with. Taking a semester away from college to pursue treatment is not an easy decision for any young adult, but for Dylan, it opened the door to advanced surgical options that have meaningfully changed her quality of life.

Her story is a reminder that when seizures don’t respond well to medication alone, a thorough evaluation for surgical options is worth exploring, and that modern, minimally invasive techniques like SEEG, LITT, and RNS can offer real paths forward for the right patients.

Is Epilepsy Surgery Right for You or Your Child?

Every patient’s epilepsy is different, and not everyone is a candidate for the same treatment. The evaluation process, much like Dylan’s, typically begins with detailed testing to understand where seizures originate and how they affect the brain, followed by a discussion of which treatment options may offer the best outcome.

If you or a loved one has epilepsy that hasn’t responded well to medication, our team at Long Island Neurosurgical Associates can help you understand whether a surgical evaluation is the right next step. Learn more about our approach to epilepsy and functional neurosurgery, or contact us to schedule a consultation.

Schedule a Consultation in New York

To learn more about advanced epilepsy treatment options, including SEEG, LITT, and RNS, contact Long Island Neurosurgical Associates to schedule an evaluation with our neurosurgery team.

Patient story and photos shared with permission.