A complex surgery, a new independent life

After years of being misdiagnosed and feeling ignored, Amanda's life changed completely when she found the right specialists.

From a young age, Amanda felt like no one understood her or her epilepsy. With the guidance and expertise of her specialists at the AHN Neuroscience Institute, now she's enjoying every day seizure-free.

Problems ignored for years

In elementary school, Amanda began to experience strange symptoms that would make her space out. Over the years, her symptoms often led to bullying at school and made her feel helpless and alone.

Her doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as growing pains. It wasn't until she grew older that they realized she was having auras — focal seizures that cause temporary confusion or sensory changes. They diagnosed her with epilepsy, a seizure disorder affecting nearly three million American adults and almost a half million children according to the CDC.

Amanda was prescribed medication to help prevent seizures. Even though the seizures continued, her seizure specialist at the time believed the medication was working and told her she was just having breakthrough seizures without offering further solutions. But she felt epilepsy was controlling her life — limiting her independence and filling every day with uncertainty.

Amanda's desperation and frustration hit a breaking point when her specialist left the practice without notice, leaving her to scramble for medication refills.

"I felt like I was screaming for help, but no one was truly listening," Amanda recalled. "I knew there had to be a better answer."

Things changed for Amanda when she called her insurance company to find a new doctor. She specifically asked for an AHN physician and found Timothy Quezada, DO, an epilepsy specialist at AHN. "It was just meant to be," Amanda reflected. Dr. Quezada was able to adjust her medication and get her seizures under control.

AHN's advanced treatment changed her life

Even though Amanda's medications were effective, her epilepsy worsened during her first pregnancy. When a seizure caused her to fall onto the bathroom floor and hit her stomach — risking the health of her unborn child — she and Dr. Quezada saw that she needed more for herself and her growing family.

After her daughter was born, Dr. Quezada introduced Amanda to AHN neurosurgeon Alex Whiting, MD. Dr. Whiting understood the complexity of Amanda's condition and recommended an advanced type of brain surgery — a right temporal lobectomy. For Amanda, it was an easy decision.

"There was no hesitation," she stated. "I was all in." Amanda saw it as an opportunity to regain control and enjoy a normal life, free from the constant threat of seizures or the daily medications.

Seizure-free and grateful

Amanda underwent surgery in April 2024. During the procedure, Dr. Whiting and his team delicately removed the specific portion of Amanda's brain that was triggering her seizures while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.

"The temporal lobe plays a crucial role in memory, language comprehension, and emotional responses," Dr. Whiting said. "We carefully map the patient's brain functions and worked with precision to avoid any damage to those functions."

Since her surgery, Amanda has been completely seizure-free.

"Some patients feel like epilepsy can take away their independence," remarked Dr. Whiting. "They feel like their whole family is always worried about them. So not having to worry about seizures anymore, not being on all those medications — it can give patients their independence back."

It was a transformation that opened a whole new world for her.

Since her surgery, Amanda often wondered how she could adequately thank Dr. Whiting. When she became pregnant with her second child, the answer became clear. She named her son Alex, in honor of Dr. Whiting, the doctor who gave Amanda her life back.

Today, Amanda is enjoying an active, independent life. She's able to raise her family on their farm without worry and drive her children wherever they need to go. She and her husband are even restoring their 1800s farmhouse together. It's a life filled with hard work, but she's incredibly thankful to be able to contribute to all of it.

"My life is so different now," Amanda grinned. "I can be present for my husband and children and just live without constant fear.

"I often ask my kids, 'What do you think of the new me?' Their smiles say it all."

The highest level of care, right here at AHN

The Joseph and Kathleen Guyaux Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at AHN Allegheny General Hospital offers the highest level of expert care for patients with complex epilepsy. Our collaborative team provides a multidisciplinary approach, including epilepsy specialists, neurosurgeons, and psychologists.

We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic testing, comprehensive medication management, and groundbreaking surgical options like those Amanda received. Providing this full range of services in one location ensures that every patient can get coordinated, personalized care.

The center's integrated approach allows for new therapies and innovations, supporting patients and their loved ones through every step of their journey, helping them live their best lives with minimal disruption from their condition.