Melissa’s Story – Amazing!

As our children are heading back to school, please take a moment and read Melissa’s story and appreciate how Hasbro Children’s Hospital has such an impact on our community…and how important your support is!

On January 20, 2020 Melissa had a seizure in the family’s living room just seconds after saying, “Mom, my leg feels weird.”  She was immediately rushed to the emergency department at Hasbro’s Children’s Hospital. After being moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and undergoing many tests, which included a spinal tap, Melissa was diagnosed with Anti-NMDAR encephalitis, an incredibly rare and potentially fatal autoimmune condition that disrupts normal brain signaling and causes brain swelling. Melissa’s condition was caused by an ovarian tumor, called a teratoma, which was discovered after a CT scan.  She underwent surgery to remove the tumor and was at Hasbro Children’s Hospital for another month and then another month-and-a-half at a rehab facility.

“Melissa’s life – and ours – has been turned upside down,” her mom says.  “She went from being an active, happy kid who had learn how to swallow, brush her teeth, walk…all the basics that we take for granted.”

 Fortunately, Melissa is in a much better place today, and her mom credits the advanced expertise of Dr. Brown and the Hasbro Children’s team for identifying what was wrong and saving her child’s life.

“We are forever grateful to the people at the hospital, especially those in the neurology group, Verena says.  “Had Melissa not received a prompt diagnosis; I don’t know if she’d be here today.”

Thanks so much to our local partners – you help make Hasbro Children’s Hospital the wonderful healthcare facility it is for our children and families.