Join us June 15th at 7pm as we celebrate Ally and her amazing recovery from knee surgery with our friends at Bronson Sports Medicine.
Ally’s Amazing Recovery from Knee Surgery
“At 5 years old, she had her first of many seizures. In the following months her seizures were so bad she would end up in Bronson’s ICU (which has a wonderful staff!) on a ventilator. She would seize for more than an hour. It was horrible.
In 2007, she had focal point surgery at Detroit Children’s Hospital to stop them but it didn’t work so they ended up removing her left hemisphere in early February 2008. She spend weeks doing rehab as an inpatient. We were told she would have little use of her right arm, would not regain strength in her right leg and her coordination would always be an issue. My girl has use of everything! And she can even ride a bike when we were told she wouldn’t.
We joined Special Olympics in 2009. She played hockey, soccer, softball, basketball, swimming and track. She loves participating in sports so when the first physician we saw said he wouldn’t do surgery on her because he felt she couldn’t handle the rehab we sought a second opinion. Dr. Sytsma treated her like any other 16-year-old girl. He asked her if she wanted to continue playing sports and when she said yes he said, ‘let’s do it!’. She did an amazing job following surgery, started physical therapy and was quickly back on her feet. Although she wasn’t able to do all of the sports she likes this year, she did do basketball and got a bronze medal! Dr. Sytsma (aka Dr. Hottie) Rocks!
Ally has hydrocephalus and a shunt, epilepsy and moderate cognitive impairment. She’s walked a rough road along the way but always comes out a shining star.
We are so blessed God picked us to raise this precious girl. Can’t begin to list the things she has taught me.”
-Michelle Prokup, Ally’s mom