Even though it is still along way off, we still find ourselves occupied more and more with Ella’s looming operation. It is such a horrible decision to have to make! Either we remove half of her brain or the chances of ‘normal’ development are compromised that is what the doctors are saying. To me it sounds like such a primitive solution. With all the knowledge held today, the knowledge of the brain is so minimal that if there is a problem we just cut out half of the brain. That part of the brain is apparently still doing something, functioning somehow, because when it is removed some functions never go back to the way they were, such as fine motor skills and restricted field of vision.
It seems to me like in 50 years (maybe less) this type of treatment will be considered a gross overkill. The flipside argument is that we can’t afford to wait and see if Ella’s development will go unimpaired because of the situation. The longer we wait the less likely that her left hemisphere will assume the functions of the right.
Very frightening.