news
A Scottish teenager suffering from epilepsy has been seizure-free for the first time in 13 years after undergoing a breakthrough surgery to remove part of his brain, according to his mother.
Angus Bain, 17, has endured at least one seizure a week for most of his life, but after becoming one of the first patients in the UK to undergo a new laser procedure, doctors say: is optimistic that he will be released from his debilitating condition. SWNS reported.
This pioneering surgery removes the brain tissue that causes seizures. Ten weeks later, Angus still hasn’t had any incidents.
“Angus’ epilepsy has been a part of our lives since he was five years old,” his mother Nikki Bain, from Gateside, Fife, told the publication.
“He was on a huge amount of medication, had wires implanted in his head to stimulate his brain, and was undergoing numerous tests and scans.”
“Words can’t even begin to describe what it means to him and our entire family that he won’t have a seizure this Christmas,” she said.
Angus underwent surgery at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital in October. The innovative laser technology, known as MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), is less invasive, with a surgery time of just under two hours and a relatively quick recovery time, according to SWNS.
“Laser surgery is a great advancement for certain patients and could give people with epilepsy a real chance of living a normal life,” said Dr Joshi Kandasamy, consultant neurosurgeon at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. told the magazine.
“This operation changed not only Angus’s life, but the whole family’s life,” he added.
The teenager is the second person in Scotland to undergo surgery.
Roslyn Neely, CEO of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are encouraged by the life-changing impact laser surgery has had on Angus.
Nikki Bain said her son’s “future is looking very bright and we are very proud and excited for him.”
The teenager said he hopes to one day get a driver’s license, play rugby and go skiing, something he was unable to do before the surgery because it was too risky.
“I wish I could go to parties with my friends. I look at pictures of all my friends together and I’m jealous that I can’t go but they can,” he said wistfully. told BBC Scotland News.
It may take some time to check these things off the list as his recovery continues, but Angus is thrilled with the results so far.
“It’s the first time I’ve been seizure-free for so long and the relief has been amazing. I’m so happy.”
Load more…
{{#isDisplay}}
{{/isDisplay}}{{#isAniviewVideo}}
{{/isAniviewVideo}}{{#isSRVideo}}
{{/isSR video}}