According to medical science, the brain is the CPU of our body, the organ without which the one cannot survive. But this 12-year-boy seems to tell a different story.
Tanner Collins, a pre-teen says he is doing completely fine after surviving a major surgery in which almost one-third of his brain was removed. Although no parents would have ever agreed to the brain surgery of such a small kid, Tanner’s parents agreed to it knowing that there was no there way for his survival. Tanner who fell prey to the slow-growing brain tumour was treated with daily seizures and medications. But after they stopped working, doctors suggested the removal of a portion of his brain, which was no doubt risky.
The area of the brain right occipital and posterior temporal lobes which were needed to be operated is responsible for facial recognition and without it, Tanner’s parents wondered if he would recognize them. Tanner was just 6-year-old when he was detected with a tumour and he underwent the major brain surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital. Although his brain has had to work to adapt since then, he’s had no major problems.
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As per media reports, other than some visual impairment, Tanner, said he’s “perfectly fine.” In an interview, the 12-year-old reportedly said he is completely fine now. Unfortunately, his younger brother was also diagnosed with a tumour. Tuesday in the scientific journal Cell Reports, the story of this rare medical miracle was published and it served as an inspiration for many. The report explained how the 12-year-old’s brain learned to adapt after a part largely responsible for visual processing was taken out.
A study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University has shown that miraculously after one part of his brain was removed, other parts of the brain have adapted to compensate for its role.
As per media reports, as surgeons took out his right occipital and posterior temporal lobes, which made up about one-third of the right hemisphere of his brain, the left hemisphere eventually compensated for the visual tasks. His case is significant in the medical history because it shows not only the potential for the reorganization of the visual system in children’s brains but also how that reorganization takes place.