12 Years After Her Half Of Her Brain Was Removed, Jessie Hall Is Looking To Help Other Children

WJZ was there as Dr. Ben Carson removed the entire right side of Jessie’s brain. The surgery was a success. Twelve years later we decided to congratulate Jessie as she graduates high school and heads to college.

[@chief6087]

What an incredible young lady an inspiration to so many other children and families faced with that very difficult decision.

[@kkstar1297]

I lived next door to a little girl who had the exact same condition and procedure. She’s also in college now for Early childhood development to be a teacher.

[@dabqu]

me too

[@kkstar1297]

@@dabqu Nice.

[@dabqu]

@@kkstar1297 nice yourself

[@ChuksOlisama]

Cheers to their parents for having the faith to undergo a surgery that leaves their daughter with half a brain

[@dbyt1224]

So Amazing

[@MsTooFine]

Wow this is amazing

[@markkane3989]

great girl !

[@phillytrue812]

Dr Ben Carson is the real hero here. He's an expert and genius surgeon

[@taylorlarkins5549]

How does that not take out half your memories? Your personality? I’m so confused. There are no cognitive problems from this?

[@TheActualCorrectOpinion]

1. I'm pretty sure memories are bilateral and stored across the entire brain. 2. Your personality is also bilateral and stored across the entire brain. 3. There are still cognitive problems but, due to the brain's ability to adapt from neuroplasticity, *most* of your skills are regained in about two years. Still though, the average iq of a child who got a hemispherectomy due to Rasmussen Encephalitis is around 70 two years after the surgery.

[@TheActualCorrectOpinion]

While the amount of neurons in your brain are one of the factors that contribute to having a higher intelligence and working memory, it is only one of many other factors that contribute to your intelligence.