Meet Champion, Ellie

At 11 months old, during her family’s first beach vacation, Ellie experienced her first seizure. She was airlifted to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, where she was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy. For years, Ellie and her family navigated the challenges of medications and uncertainty, until a pediatric neurosurgeon and pediatric neurologist at Levine Children’s believed her seizures could be cured with surgery. After months of pre-surgical testing, just before her fifth birthday, Ellie underwent a full temporal lobectomy to remove the seizure-causing portion of her brain. Ellie has been seizure-free ever since. Now 13, she is a vibrant, thriving competitive gymnast and Honor Roll student who continues to amaze her parents, who are both healthcare professionals, and her medical team. Her journey is a testament to the exceptional, compassionate, specialized care she received.