Epilepsy patient doing well after surgery

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Family and friends of 12-year old Alicia Jacquez from Tome have reason to cheer for the young girl, this after her successful brain surgery in October. Doctors from UNM's Epilepsy Center operated on Alicia in an effort to stop epileptic seizures she had suffered since she was just 1-year-old.

"She just felt that it was ruining her life," says Alicia's mom Marisella Jacquez referring to the seizures.

The seizures kept Alicia from attending school on a regular basis, having a private life, or having the regular life of a girl her age.

"I couldn't do anything," says Alicia. "I wouldn't be able to go out with friends and I'd just sleep for the rest of the day."

Then Alicia's family made the decision to have doctors do a critical brain surgery in the hopes of stopping the seizures.

"We had to implant electrodes intercranially inside the skull so that we could find where the seizures were coming from," says Dr. Bruce Fish, Director of the UNM Epilepsy Center. "It's a big undertaking but she's a brave girl and she did very well."

The surgery has proved to be a success and now the recovery begins.

"I'm happier that I don't have to be stuck in a hospital," says Alicia.

"We're excited for all the positive that's been happening," adds Marisella. "So the little bit of bumps in the road, it's nothing compared to what we dealt with before and I'm sure we'll be ok and sure it's going to be ok."

Marisella told News 13 on Wednesday that doctors said it appears Alicia's recovery has been going well. They are still going to be monitoring a few things such as her breathing and sleeping.

All the medical procedures have been costly for the Jacquez family. If anyone would like to donate financially to help out, an account has been set up at Wells Fargo Banks under the name "Alicia Jacquez Donation care of Frank Garcia." Payments can also be made online using a Pay Pal account to the e-mail address of Frrankm@aol.com