Toddler Stella back to being a kid after life-changing brain operations

Lana Lam:

Clear Water Bay toddler Stella Sipma is back home after spending weeks in a New York hospital having three major brain operations that have changed her life dramatically.

The two-year-old, who suffers from a rare genetic disease that has caused major developmental delays, returned home to Sheung Sze Wan on Monday with mum Alison, dad Marcel and older sister Sophie.

Stella has tuberous sclerosis, which causes non-cancerous tumours to grow in vital organs, including the brain.

She was diagnosed at nine months and suffered daily violent seizures until last month when she had three operations to remove the tumours.

Before the operations, Stella was unsteady on her feet and had limited speech but since returning home, she has been full of energy, running around the house and playing with her older sister.

"The girls were really happy to be back and Stella was running around like a maniac," Alison said.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 17, 2011 3:22 AM
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