“I was hopeless” is a phrase you frequently encounter when speaking with parents of children with drug-resistant epilepsy. It serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role that Solidarity Bridge plays in sustaining hope for those whose hope has run thin. Along with committed partners, Solidarity Bridge is restoring hope for Bolivian children suffering drug resistant epileptic seizure disorders by making epilepsy surgery accessible.

This effort includes children like 10-year-old Jame, who was among the first pediatric patients to undergo epilepsy surgery in 2023 through our partnership with the Santa Cruz Children’s Hospital. In an emotional follow up visit in November, as part of our Epilepsy Surgery Mission, Jame and his parents shared the wonderful news that Jame was doing well and living seizure-free. Before the surgery, half of his body was paralyzed and he suffered from frequent seizures - which severely impacted his overall quality of life and hindered his ability to participate fully in school and other daily activities.

“We’re happy, he doesn’t have seizures now. He’s, well… normal. And in terms of school, he’s now making more friends, learning, and even reading. Before, he wasn’t able to read. He has a normal life now,” shared his mother at their visit with us in November.

The presence of Jame and his parents during this second Epilepsy Mission gave hope to the parents of children awaiting surgery. The interchange between families that had received surgery on our previous mission with those awaiting surgery during this mission created bonds of support and encouragement. Many of these families that met during our mission week have maintained contact with each other since. We are grateful for the community this experience fostered - as we know that a sense of community is essential to sustaining hope in the midst of difficulty.

The Solidarity Bridge team that accompanied these families was inspired by the children’s courage as they prepared for surgery. One of the pediatric patients awaiting surgery echoed our thoughts, proclaiming, “I’m a champion!”

We are overjoyed to share that all of the surgeries from this mission week were successful and the children are enjoying a better quality of life.

This epilepsy surgery program began in 2021 at the invitation of the Bolivian Neurology and Neurosurgery Team at Santa Cruz Children’s Hospital, which averages over 3,000 epilepsy-related neurology consultations per year. According to international statistics, 20-40% of these cases are drug-resistant and cannot be treated pharmacologically.* For these children, epilepsy surgery offers the possibility of freedom from seizures and a better quality of life.

This reality drove neurosurgeon Dr. Félix Pacheco and his dedicated team of neurosurgeons and neurologists to pursue advanced training in surgical options for their pediatric epilepsy patients in Bolivia. The program was structured in multiple stages, beginning with training medical personnel and acquiring specialized equipment, such as video electroencephalography. These tools have enabled rigorous presurgical evaluations.

In 2022, Solidarity Bridge began convening international experts in epilepsy and epilepsy surgery to share their knowledge through presentations and regular case discussions. This collaboration ensured the appropriate selection of candidates for surgery. Doctors Arthur DiPatri and Rebecca Garcia Sosa (Lurie Children’s Hospital) and Raheel Ahmed and David Hsu (University of Wisconsin-Madison) have all played a crucial role in enriching the training of the local team and enhancing the quality of interventions. The program has also contributed significantly to the professional development of the Bolivian specialists involved.

In November, Dr. Raheel Ahmed worked alongside Bolivian surgeons Dr. José Cuiza, Dr. Félix Pacheco, Dr. Mauricio Puch, and Dr. Miguel Saenz to perform temporal lobectomy and corpus callosotomy procedures, all of which were successful.

What we witnessed during this mission was truly inspiring—bonds formed between our U.S. Mission Team, Bolivian medical partners, and patient families that exemplified the power of shared hope. As families who had received surgery met those still awaiting treatment, a profound sense of solidarity and mutual support emerged. These missions are about more than just medical procedures; they restore lives, foster connections, and renew hope. We are reminded that hope is a gift that flows both ways—from those who give and those who receive—and that, through community, we all find strength and transformation.

*Vaughan, Kerry A., et al. "An estimation of global volume of surgically treatable epilepsy based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of epilepsy." Journal of neurosurgery 130.4 (2018): 1127-1141.

A Community of Hope for Bolivian Children with Epilepsy