Joey Lora .com Logo Banner: Poster Child for Epilepsy

Photo: Joey Lora - Miracle Epilepsy and Hemispherectomy survivor - teaching us to love every day of his life!

Hi!  I'm Joey. 
Welcome to my Website!!


Joey Lora was born a happy, healthy 8 lb. 11 oz. baby boy on October 14, 1998. Days after turning 9 months old, Joey had his first seizure. In the blink of an eye, Joey went from a vibrant baby boy to a child clinging to his life. Joey had Epilepsy.

Within three months, Joey was in CNMC’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). In & out of CNMC and PICU as seizures increased & again became life threatening. Joey underwent a series of tests & procedures. Five brain surgeries later, & almost the entire left side of his brain removed, Joey was completely paralyzed on his right side. He is working very hard to compensate for this disability.

Joey is walking, talking, getting into trouble, flirting with all the nurses & most amazingly, he started school on December 11, 2001.

Though Joey is not seizure free yet, he has been given a gift, a new beginning.

Joey's 6th brain surgery is on Tuesday, August 16th at 11:30a.m.

This is considered as another 'left hemispherectomy' and then some exploratory surgery. They really don't seem to know what is going on with the continued seizures, which are getting more severe. Most are lasting 2 ~ 3 minutes. They plan to take out a section of the left frontal lobe that I didn't know was still there, explore the basal ganglia area and also the chunk of brain tissue in the back that is suppose to be electrically disconnected already. They will determine whether he needs to have a shunt put in. The MRI showed some hydrocephalus. I am totally against shunts. They come with their own complications.

Please keep him in your prayers and I will let you know how he does. Thanks in advance for your prayers. Please keep Joey in your prayers - Read about the surgical result in "A Note from Joey's Mom"

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For the Words to Joey's Song - click here

The first physical therapist to work with Joey, two days after the hemispherectomy at Children's, was Kendra Elmore. She fell in love with Joey and vice versa. She was out running and came up with this poem about Joey. The next day she came over and sang "Joey's Song" to him as his 2nd birthday present. It's incredible.

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You Gave Me Courage - click here for Poem

See the poem Joey's mother wrote when in PICU.  Sandy does not write poetry and this was her first.  So many emotions can only be expressed this way.

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For Washington Post Article - click here

By Bob Levey
Washington Post Staff Writer

For American Weekly Article - click here

(with Photos by Anne Doyle)

For Channel 9 WUSA Article  - click here

See the interview & great video they did of Joey

Joey's Scrapbook
He's 5 and the apple of our eye - see family photos - learn about his therapy sessions

See Joey is New York!!!

Joey's Schedule
Joey is Poster Child for Children's Hospital - check his appearances
Fun for Kids
Print and Color - Discover your world
Help for Parents
There is a world of seizure and epilepsy information on the Internet - We've some helpful references listed here
Joey Lora Fund for Children
The "Joey Lora Fund" money goes to benefit the areas of the hospital that are responsible for Joey's success and the future successes of other children like him.
Home Page
Special Links here for Joey's Song / Joey's Poem / Washington Post Article on Joey
Joey's Guestbook
Please be sure to sign Joey's Guestbook!! 
 
Photo:  Joey and Mom just 'sliding' :)
 

Joey and Mom Enjoying the Playground

 
 
 
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