After over a decade of seizures, an innovative surgery helps teenager with epilepsy

Everly Sharp was 10 years old when her parents adopted her from China. She spoke only Mandarin and was already on medication for seizures – likely the result of a stroke she suffered as a baby.

Adopting her meant facing language barriers, cultural differences and a complex medical journey. But none of that mattered when they looked into her eyes.

“We just knew she was our girl,” said Everly’s mom, Penny Sharp.

The Sharps weren’t new parents – they had one biological son and had already adopted two special needs children. But nothing could have prepared them for the reality of living with severe epilepsy. 

During Everly’s first night with her new family, she had a seizure. “It scared the absolute bejeezus out of me,” Penny recalled. “Not only were we dealing with medical stuff, we were also dealing with a child who had never been in the outside world. It was a hot mess.”

Finding answers at MUSC

That was the start of a long journey through doctors, specialists, countless medications and both traditional and non-traditional treatments.

“Everybody in our house was on seizure duty,” Penny said. “We couldn't go anywhere or do anything.”

Everly’s seizures came relentlessly – multiple times a day. Medications caused side effects, leaving Everly trapped in a cycle of sleeping and seizing. The family tried every treatment imaginable, from traditional medicine to the Keto diet and pharmaceutical cannabidiol. 

Nothing worked.

Everly, who was 17 years old at the time, needed brain surgery. 

While they knew surgery posed risks – including the possibility that Everly could lose the ability to walk – it was the best option, according to Ramin Eskandari, M.D., chief of pediatric neurosurgery at MUSC.

The family was hesitant. But waiting could mean Everly’s seizures, which were in just one side of her brain, could travel to the other side. That would eliminate the option of surgery.

Penny knew the potential reward – a seizure-free life for Everly – outweighed the risk.

Innovative brain surgery at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital offers new hope

The surgical team at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital relied not just on skill and determination, but also on cutting-edge technology. The Modus-V exoscope, a high-definition digital imaging system, gives surgeons a crystal-clear, magnified 3D view, enhancing precision and visibility. The hospital was the first in North America to use this innovative tool.

Penny braced herself for a two-week hospital stay. But six days later, Everly was discharged – more vibrant than Penny had ever seen her. 

“From that day on, her mouth has not stopped,” Penny said with a laugh. “It was like she was seeing the world for the first time, like she wanted to talk about everything.”

For a child who didn’t say much, even after she learned English, it was a dramatic difference. Her personality blossomed – funny, empathetic and endlessly curious about the world around her.

“The child I brought home and this child that I have now are totally different,” Penny said. “In a lot of ways, it’s like I'm just meeting her.”

Healing with the help of MUSC donor-supported programs

Everly’s healing wasn’t just physical — it was emotional, too, thanks to donor-supported programs like Child Life and Hospital Dogs.

At MUSC, Child Life specialists use play, education and emotional support to help kids cope with the stress of treatment. Hospital dogs are part of patients’ recovery plans, providing comfort, motivation and encouragement during procedures and long hospital stays.

These services, provided at no cost to families, are only possible because of generous donors who are changing what’s possible for kids like Everly.

The promise of a wagging tail or a visit to the playroom became powerful motivation for Everly. Each small step — walking to the door to greet a furry friend, choosing a favorite toy — was a victory not just for her body, but for her spirit.

“It helped physically, but it helped tremendously mentally, too,” Penny shared. “Those moments made all the difference.”

A future filled with freedom and possibility

Today, at 20 years old, Everly is seizure-free. She’s cut back on her medications, goes to school with her siblings and is embracing a newfound freedom. “This kid is living her best life,” Penny said.

It’s a relief for the whole family. 

“It makes it all worth it,” she continued. “We’re just so thankful to have been given the opportunity.”