The Hemispherectomy Foundation is a

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of ...

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

founded to provide a support structure for children, and the families of children who have had or are preparing to have

hemispherectomy Hemispherectomy is a surgery that is performed by a Neurosurgery, neurosurgeon where an unhealthy Cerebral hemisphere, hemisphere of the brain is disconnected or removed. There are two types of hemispherectomy. ''Functional'' ''hemispherectomy'' ...

brain surgery. The foundation also provides scholarships for college, trade schools, and summer camps, as well as financial assistance and other support as needed. It is based in

Aledo, Texas Aledo ( ) is a city in Parker County, Texas, Parker County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,858 in 2020. The city is served by the Aledo Independent School District. History The Parker post office was established in 1880 by Littlebe ...

History

The Hemispherectomy Foundation was founded in 2008, when a six-year-old girl, Jessie Hall, was hospitalized with

Rasmussen's encephalitis Rasmussen syndrome, also known as Rasmussen's encephalitis, is a rare progressive autoimmune Neurology, neurological disease. It is characterized by frequent and severe Focal seizure, focal seizures, progressive neurological decline, hemiparesis ( ...

Johns Hopkins Hospital Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1889, Johns Hopkins Hospital and its school of medicine are considered to be the foundin ...

. Jessie was undergoing

surgery (removal or disconnection of one-half of the brain) to control continuous seizures. Although The Hemispherectomy Foundation is based in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, it provides support globally. Ben Carson, M.D., director of pediatric neurosurgery, at

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

, is the honorary chair of the foundation's medical advisory board. He assumed this position in January, 2009.

References

External links

The Hemispherectomy Foundation: Official Website
Medical and health foundations based in the United States Organizations for children with health issues Non-profit organizations based in Texas {{nonprofit-org-stub 501(c)(3) organizations