She really had you on the ropes, Chris, didn't she? She has some very serious, deep questions for you. I love how she advocates for herself! Such a strong young lady!
The brain is remarkable. I had a massive stoke and had to learn everything again. I learned by repetition, repetition, repetition. She is young. She will succeed!
@@2xkonan it's not just split, its no longer connected, and most of the diseased hemisphere was removed. This is different to corpus callosotomy, where the brain is split through the corpus callosum, but both hemispheres are still functional and providing brain function.
@Sarcastic Fox I hope that you are getting help. When I was your age there was no help. And it was terrible. It wasn’t until I was in college that my uncle sent me to a psychiatrist.
Happy thoughts are internal, which is joy. You can get joy from serving others and getting together with people who help change your negative perspective. It’s just a perspective issue :)
She’s a groovy teen! When she said she minds her own business to avoid the noise, I felt that. Glad to see this family is so supportive and full of love.
as someone with high functioning autism I def felt that in my soul like I go in a bar I cant handle it I broke down crying one time cause this bartender made fun of me I dont mean to Trauma Dump on anybody but my Aunt didnt realize how fragile I was I feel better like Sleeping with Cats and taking care of them and feeding them then mean people Shes cool that she has a cool family that supports her I just hope that she gets the right support and everything I dont even know how to take care of myself sometimes so I can imagine the challenges ahead of her
@@isaiahblue7269 something of note, in addition to what the other commenter said above, is that you dont form any memories before or after having a single seizure, for at least 30 seconds before and 1 minute after, to up to like 30mins-hours before or after. My sister has epilepsy and as soon as she comes to, we have to tell her why she is on the floor in the middle of the day in the living room. She never has any idea whatsoever. This is true for (ive heard) all people who have seizures. I dont have epilepsy but i have had one medication induced seizure and the only thing i remember is waking up in a puddle of my spit afterwards after lying unconscious for a couple minutes following my convulsions. I had no memory of the rest of the day before it happened, but i do remember afterwards that i woke up in my marine biology class before i got taken to the hospital. My memory for the rest of the day after those 2 foggy memories is also pretty much gone. It’s likely that this poor girl didn’t have much ability to form memories properly before receiving the hemispherectomy. Im really glad that she was able to get such a life-saving intervention and that it helped her so much.
Our daughter had the same surgery in 2010 when she was 11 years old. She's been seizure-free ever since! And she, too, does things we and the doctors never thought she would, such as horseback riding. She, too, has very few memories from before the surgery. We thank the Lord for that surgery! So happy for your family!
Let the mom know you can install a toothpaste holder to the bathroom , it’s kinda like a soap dispenser at a public restroom. I thought it was silly when I saw it at first (it was someone who was rich and lazy to push a tube) but I think it would be perfect in this situation! It might be costly but I think it would really help her in the long run and make her feel independent. That’s so important for people , independence is like freedom :)
agreed so much, he's very good at shifting between seriousness and excitement too, he'll completely listen to them when it's a more serious question/conversation.
This girl is pure joy, it's impossible not to like her. Props to her fantastic family for having her in their life and to the neurosurgeons for such an amazing job.
"Maybe I can be positive to myself, Maybe I can think kindly to myself." This brought tears to my eyes. This young lady can teach us all something. Half-brain or full brain - she defo has a sweet huge heart ❤️
Epilepsy is terrible. The treatment is either being medicated for life and/or brain surgery. I had a portion of brain removed, and it changed my life forever--I cannot imagine having to go to such an extreme extent to treat such a mentally and physically draining ailment. Glad to hear she's seizure free! Edit: Temporal lobe surgery stopped the tonic-clonics but I still get partial seizures.
How old were you when you had part of your brain removed?? What kind of challenges did this create for you?? To me, it sounds scary as hell but I have seen enough seizures happen to understand why someone would make a choice to have such a surgery. I am sorry you had to go through that but if it cured a medical issue for you, I am glad you don't have to suffer with the issue anymore.
No they've actually invented a chip that can be implanted in the brain that regulates brain activity, halting seizures or lessening the frequency/severity. A girl got it done on Netflix's "Diagnosis." I'm sure not everyone is a candidate for it tho
They don't call it a disability, but it is. It affects your life in so many ways. Thankfully I'm on the other side. Last year I finally got clearance to get my learners permit. I feel like my life is just starting in my 40s. I'm finally getting my independence.
@@naturegirl2110 it really is. Even though mine has been controlled for many years, people don't realise the emotional toll it can take, knowing that you have to always be cautious to avoid triggers, I can't just relax and let loose at a college party like my friends because i have to be aware. The anxiety that one gets going to a neuro and having your meds upped because they saw some abnormalities in your EEG. It's also embarrassing because of the stigma attached. I hardly tell anyone unless I NEED to
Much love to you and your daughter! Mikisa would love to make some online friends who are similar to her. Let me know if you're interested in having them connect. One of the parts of the interview that wasn't shown was that she was grilling Chris on how to find "community." She doesn't have many friends outside of school.
Mikisa is so expressive, inquisitive, intelligent, determined, and confident. I love how she advocated for herself and wasn't afraid to ask questions - very important, profound questions. Go go go Mikisa! You have such a bright future ahead of you!
@@Celisar1You should probably commence reading some neurology, and specifically about the relevant medical case. Otherwise, you’ll never understand what we mean.
@@IslamicSunnahGuidance you're too gentle. more like.....@celisar go grab a dictionary, look up every word in its respective usage in relation to the OP's statement " You have such a bright future ahead of you," agree that the OP's statement is pristinely factual, and then apologize for making yourself sound like an utter and abysmal failure of a youtube commenter.
When she said, "Oh I know! I am helpful!" I smiled so big. It was so nice to watch her start to understand the concept of affirmations and the moment where she thought of one herself. That must be so rewarding as an educator. Great job, Chris. But mostly, great job Mikisa. Don't ever stop asking questions. It is the best way to learn!
Oh my word. She's so eager to learn. She's free to say when she doesn't understand something. I'm in love with her. Watching this just melted my heart.
The one-on-one time between Mikisa and Chris was beautiful and enlightening. It shows how much she understands, but more importantly, how much she wants to learn. She'll go far and i have no doubt she will do well in an independent, semi- supervised living situation. You're adorable, Mikisa! 💞😊💜
Toothpaste on the toothbrush... there are auto dispensers for toothpaste now. You place the brush under the sensor, and it places the paste on the brush. Wonderful help for those with difficulty. I purchased one for my friends son. He wanted to brush on his own as well, and has the same hinderance. He cant squeeze the tune and hold the brush too, so... a dispenser worked for him. Just a thought.
12:01 When she folded her arms, and said "Give me some suggestions honey"!!! My heart....:) Keeping Mr Chris on his toes. Love this family. Mikisa is lovely.
"Give me some suggestions honey" omg I love Makisa she is hilarious such great dialogue between you two. It's amazing how strong she is and hasn't seemed to loose any personality through her struggles💕
YES.....I was laughing because she started interviewing Chris and keeping him on his toes with those questions. He couldn't by pass anything too fast before she asked, what that means or give me some suggestions Mr. Chris. I LOVE IT 😍. She's functioning fine. Out of all these many interviews he's done, I never saw him being interviewed by a possible journalist.
Mikisa really talked Chris into a corner! You go, young woman! And what a lovely man to embrace this special child with special needs and take on the role of her daddy. Mommy is golden, too - VERY golden!
My number one tip for working on increasing independence is talking to an occupational therapist, if that’s a possibility for their family (and if they haven’t already). I’m an occupational therapy student right now but so much of what occupational therapists work on is focused on improving quality of life and helping people of all ages and abilities to be more independent in the areas they want to!
My son struggled with completing multi step instruction, including almost all ADLs. Within 6 months, his positive progression into independence was insanely miraculous. Does it mean he can perfectly complete all ADLs without assistance or direction, no. But, I no longer have to wash his face, brush his teeth/hair, get him dressed and get his shoes on every single day.
When I was five years old, my uncle Lester had a stroke. This would have been in 1970. His occupational therapist had him make jewelry. The stroke affected his right side so it was a struggle. But he was amazing! He would buy slabs of semi precious stones and cut them and set them. I still have pieces of jewelry that he made. I was so proud of him.
As a practicing ot provider out in the world I would suggest the same thing, not just in the school setting, especially since self care is so important to her
I'm hoping we get a follow up on her. She's so sweet, polite and interested in what people have to tell her and I would love to see some of her art too.
She is hungry to learn and it is so beautiful I almost cried just seeing her vibrant eyes and how well she articulated herself! If I were her mom I’d be very proud of this young woman! Good job, encouraging her Chris!!!
Aw I love her so much. Shoutout to the family who adopted her and brought her in. It looks like she has braids so that’s really inspiring that they are still teaching her culture in her life. Make sure her hair is on point always don’t want this baby to be teased she’s such a sweetheart but kids can be mean!
It’s hard to explain how I can feel so much love for someone I don’t even know. This sweet girl is just breaking my heart with joy from how precious and happy and honest and adorable she is. Her singing to her sister and seeing the love her sisters have for her is bringing tears to my eyes. I’m so moved, just wow.
i love how clear she is with how she speaks, even if she cant quite get the right word she knows what shes trying to say and i love the fact she will correct him every single time. i didnt even know surviving like how she does was possible, but shes more than surviving.
The fact that she is just so joyful over her dad making lunch for her everyday. Brought tears to my eyes. The simplest acts can make someone feel so incredibly loved. ❤
She is amazing. Her pre-surgery life sounds like it was very difficult, it's incredible how much the damaged brain must have been weighing her down. I'm happy she can live the rest of her life safe and sound with a caring family.
She’s absolutely amazing and so motivating.. prime example of what a true loving, kind human being should be. She wants to know every single detail of how things work, she loves learning and that is truly working out in her favor ❤
I’m so so happy your seizures are all gone Mikisa! And trust me, it’s hard for a lot of us to power through all the challenges and mishaps life throws our way. You’re in good company!
This was magical to watch. Her thirst for conversation and your dialogue was everything pure in this world and the most honest example of hope and kindness i have ever seen.
Hearing her talk about how she wants to think about herself made me wonder what she does think about herself ☹️ She’s so bright in terms of intelligence AND personality, and her smile matches that personality too ♥️
Agreed, you could see her reluctance to call herself smart or strong, she wasn't happy until she found one that she agreed already described her. My aunt has an intellectual disability and she hates when people call her smart, which breaks my heart. It's clear she has an internal monologue, we will just never get to know what it's saying.
@@margaritakmp right!! The fact that the one she wanted to use was “I’m helpful” gave me some insight into the fact that she feels like her worth is tied to how much she can do for others. I hope she’s able to see how important she is regardless of how helpful she is to others. I hope the same for your aunt ☹️
@@margaritakmp I can sort of understand why someone with an intellectual disability might be uncomfortable being called smart. I guess it might feel like when people say that to you, they're implying that being smart is very important and one of the best things and that it would be very bad not to be smart? And you know that you have an intellectual disability so aren't necessarily 'smart' in the most common definition of the word. Maybe they need to have a discussion about different things people mean when they say smart?
@@shilohsmischief Being helpful is a great thing to be though! She should be proud of being helpful :). As well as many other things, not just that, but it is a good thing to be.
@@junbh2 I agree that being helpful is valuable! I also think that everyone deserves to have an identity that’s separate from what they can do for others
She is so bright. She can light up the room whoever she goes. She truly is a blessing and her parents are blessed to have her as their daughter. You can tell that she would be an amazing friend to have as well 😊
Mikisa is wonderful! I think a toothpaste dispenser that squeezes it out could be really helpful for the teeth brushing! You just put the tube into it and it works on a sensor.
My gym/health teacher in middle school’s son had to had this procedure due to seizures as well. I recall that he explained to the class about his sons condition and some kid asked “do you ever call him half brain?” The whole class was silent but the teacher just chuckled and said no we don’t call him that. The whole class immediately shamed and roasted him for his insensitivity. If anyone ever tries to bring you down just remember you’ll always have supporters and people to have your back! This was a great interview
Yikes! There are curious, well-meaning questions, and then there's...that kind of question. Wish I could've been a fly on the wall to witness the reaction of your empathetic class! Hope that kid learned a lesson without being too traumatized himself lol
I love that kids are becoming more aware and sensitive now adays. I think it's actually pretty cool that the class roasted the guy trying to clown on a disabled kid rather than laughing along with him. Good on em.
i really really really loved getting to see teacher and mentor chris not just behind the camera chris. this interaction highlighted why he’s doing what he does and why there is no one better suited for it.
Oh my heart, Mikisa you are fabulous! I loved when she said people need to ask her permission to be her friend. What an insightful reply. She knows her self worth and has great boundaries. What a beautiful, bright spark she has!
Wow this young lady is an intelligent lady, I think the questions she was asking you Chris really put you on the spot a couple of times. I am happy to see so much love in this family. The mom is great to speak intelligently when answering questions and not just saying anything just to give an answer. I wish this family lots of love and happiness for the future 💛🐝🌻
Mikisa has so much personality, and able to put into words problems that I would've struggled with. Like how she describes anxiety and the difficulty of taking care of oneself. Her ability to voice her frustrations in a calm, cute manner when she couldn't understand the question is actually inspiring. Mom and Dad have done excellent to teach her communication skills, that myself lack. What a wonderful real and loving family.
Having only half your brain and being able to function as much as she can is such a blessing from God for her!!! I love how everytime it was just her and you on camera she was asking you for advice on how to make her life more independant and easier. I probably also do that if I ever got to meet you, Chris
Oh my lord this is beautiful. What a sassy young lady! She made me laugh whenever she said "Well give me some suggestions, honey" haha it's amazing how capable she is and how much of her personality she can express by herself.
Loved this! That young lady is such a blessing, as are her parents. Chris does such a great job with these young people. I also LOVE how he always puts the captions up on the screen. Thumbs up! Beth in Raleigh, NC
As someone with a seizure disorder, mine is autoimmune encephalitis so its inflammation in my brain, I am so happy to hear she is doing so much better and hasn't relapsed. She seems to be doing really well with what she is going through, I can't imagine. I was so impressed by her speech.
@@bepowerification thanks, I've had it for about a year now, and now I have 4 autoimmune inflammatory conditions. I've had Crohn's for about 10 years and this one for the past year. Had 6 hospitalizations for seizures in that time. Thankfully been out since September.
Mikisa is such a cool young woman. She so eager to learn and also very open about what she wants to learn and where she struggles. That’s an important skill!!😊 also her relationship with her mum is loving and heartwarming, I immediately texted my mum 🙈❤️
Love how eager Mikisa is to learn new things! Accommodation suggestions: Maybe try brushing with mouthwash on the toothbrush if that is easier. Or put mouthwash/toothpaste in your mouth and then brush. I believe there are also some pre-pasted brushes, and pre-portioned toothpaste dots you can chew a bit so it turns pasty. Good luck!!
I also quickly discovered that automatic toothpaste dispensers were a thing when I was thinking about how there are automatic soap dispensers, but I can see a real benefit in learning to stick the paste in her mouth first because she can do that anywhere like a friend’s house or a hotel and not worry that she forgot the dispenser at home or whatever. Sometimes simple is better.
I love Mikisa's energy, this interview put a big smile on my face :) with how motivated she seems to ask questions and learn, I have no doubt she will be able to achieve whatever she puts her mind to!
She's such a sweetheart and very bright she really wants to do so much on her own. I believe she's going to get better doing things on her own she has really good loving and caring parent's.
Mikisa is such an adorable young woman! Her wonderful personality just leaps off the screen. It's totally normal for a person her age to want greater independence, and she has a great attitude for going about it. Her parents were wonderful, great interactions. Such a happy video!
9:37 that made me smile so big. What great and insightful questions. She’s wonderful. She really wants to learn and she takes it all in. She will go very far Edit: 14:41 she learned “affirmation” so quick and she had just asked what it meant. And then have a great example. I love this video!
It was so heart warming, she is such a curious and wonderful soul, and I agree, she will go far, also though because she has a spirit for learning and a wonder for the world.
I LOVE her! I start a new job as a Behavioral Intervener this month for children with diverse neurological abilities and I've been watching your interviews non-stop. Your demeanor and personal skills are incredible, and I am surely taking mental notes for when I begin my practice. Thank you for spreading awareness!
Wow, what an awesome kid!!! Mikisa's got to be one of the coolest people I've ever seen. She comes off as just mildly intellectually disabled, not /missing half her entire brain/. Mikisa is incredible, I can't believe how resilient she is. Being the person she is after that surgery 😨... It's nothing short of brilliant. I want to give her a hug and tell her how cool I think she is. Then do a puzzle or some colouring with her. 😀
It's even more incredible when you realise that she spent the first 9 years of her life constantly having seizures day and night. It would have been very hard for her to learn in those 9 years.
I have a family history of birth defects and I've been afraid to have children in case I have a child with disabilities. Bit these interviews have shown me that people with disabilities can live good lives full of love, and I'm seriously considering having a baby because my fears have been allayed
Regarding the toothpaste situation: I thought about maybe fixating the toothpaste in some kind of way to a wall in the bathroom. Similar to a liquid soap dispenser. That way Mikisa could just concentrate on holding the toothbrush and pressing the toothpaste tube, instead of also having to manage coordinating the toothpaste. I don't know, just a quick idea. Anyway, this is a great interview, I really loved listening to you Mikisa! I am really happy that you have such a wonderful family around you and that you are doing so great! You go girl!
Mikisa is ADORABLE! She is incredible, considering everything she has been through - what an inspiration! Thanks for introducing Mikisa to the world, Mr. Chris!
Mikisa, You are so amazing, so beautiful, sweet and smart! And Mom, you explained everything so perfectly for us who don’t understand hemispherectomy. Thank you. Wishing you all very well, God’s blessings, and lots of love & happiness always!
I love her asking Chris for advice on how she can be more independent! The brain is pretty incredible. It must be terrifying to come to the decision to remove parts of the brain but it sounds like her quality of life is so much better now.
What a wonderful young lady. Thank you for letting us meet Mikisa - she is an absolute miracle and I am sending good vibes for her journey to independence from Scotland, UK! There are so many potential affirmations I learnt about her from this short video, I hope she realises how amazing she is ❤
I wish I could ask Mikisa permission to be her friend. She has such a vibrant personality! It’s inspiring. Like most if not all the people interviewed in SBSK.
This lovely young woman challenged you like no other This was one of my favorite moments. She forced you off your usual script and owned the interview. I loved your honest conversation. You were at your best !
I’m newly 18, so Mikisa is very close to my age. While my physical&mental disabilities are not as impactful developmentally, I struggle to be more independent and I identify so heavily with her! Wish the Family the best!!!
We can't say enough how good you are in dealing with these kids! How 'normal' you treat them! (forgive me for the word normal, I am not an English speaker so it's hard for me to proper explain myself) The love, the patience, the guidance, the openess you give these kids just goes a long way! Keep doing what yo're doing buddy!
She really had you on the ropes, Chris, didn't she? She has some very serious, deep questions for you. I love how she advocates for herself! Such a strong young lady!
She was advocating for herself greatly
She's very inquisitive. Nothing gets past her! Mr. Chris got interviewed!
I loved how she would stop him when he talked too fast or said too many things at once, and ask him to say it again. That will help her so much.
Very me
Great point!!! This is my impression of her too! If she gave me permission to be her friend, I would be honored 😊
And because of her young age, plus neuroplasticity, she's gonna make even more improvements. She's definitely a medical miracle.
The fact she has a brain split in half and capable of this is still mind boggling to me
The brain is remarkable. I had a massive stoke and had to learn everything again. I learned by repetition, repetition, repetition. She is young. She will succeed!
Absolutely. Her future is very bright.
@@2xkonan it's not just split, its no longer connected, and most of the diseased hemisphere was removed. This is different to corpus callosotomy, where the brain is split through the corpus callosum, but both hemispheres are still functional and providing brain function.
The brain is just sooo so amazing.
"How can I have happy thoughts in my head?" That is such a hard question. Many adults struggle with that everyday.
Yes..our own brain can sometimes be our worst enemy..
Same, I'm 15 and sometimes my brain and I will argue.
@Sarcastic Fox I hope that you are getting help. When I was your age there was no help. And it was terrible. It wasn’t until I was in college that my uncle sent me to a psychiatrist.
@@JoshiTheKitsune I understand that! I hope that you are getting help. Blessings to you
Happy thoughts are internal, which is joy. You can get joy from serving others and getting together with people who help change your negative perspective. It’s just a perspective issue :)
"Give me more suggestions, honey"
My heart melted! She's amazing.
“Affir-who?!” She cracks me up
I loved that!
Yeah, that was so adorable. She is truly amazing!
same
Too good!🤣
She’s a groovy teen! When she said she minds her own business to avoid the noise, I felt that. Glad to see this family is so supportive and full of love.
I feel bad that she lost all previous memories. I couldn't imagine. She seems so happy.
@@isaiahblue7269 It sounds like her life before the surgery was very difficult.
as someone with high functioning autism I def felt that in my soul like I go in a bar I cant handle it I broke down crying one time cause this bartender made fun of me I dont mean to Trauma Dump on anybody but my Aunt didnt realize how fragile I was I feel better like Sleeping with Cats and taking care of them and feeding them then mean people Shes cool that she has a cool family that supports her I just hope that she gets the right support and everything I dont even know how to take care of myself sometimes so I can imagine the challenges ahead of her
@@isaiahblue7269 something of note, in addition to what the other commenter said above, is that you dont form any memories before or after having a single seizure, for at least 30 seconds before and 1 minute after, to up to like 30mins-hours before or after. My sister has epilepsy and as soon as she comes to, we have to tell her why she is on the floor in the middle of the day in the living room. She never has any idea whatsoever. This is true for (ive heard) all people who have seizures. I dont have epilepsy but i have had one medication induced seizure and the only thing i remember is waking up in a puddle of my spit afterwards after lying unconscious for a couple minutes following my convulsions. I had no memory of the rest of the day before it happened, but i do remember afterwards that i woke up in my marine biology class before i got taken to the hospital. My memory for the rest of the day after those 2 foggy memories is also pretty much gone. It’s likely that this poor girl didn’t have much ability to form memories properly before receiving the hemispherectomy. Im really glad that she was able to get such a life-saving intervention and that it helped her so much.
Our daughter had the same surgery in 2010 when she was 11 years old. She's been seizure-free ever since! And she, too, does things we and the doctors never thought she would, such as horseback riding. She, too, has very few memories from before the surgery. We thank the Lord for that surgery! So happy for your family!
Why do you not thank the Lord for letting her have seizures and needing to have half her brain removed? That's not very loving
@@Im_Rainrotyou need to step back and think to yourself what the purpose of saying that is. What do you want to accomplish with that?
@@toastyskyshroom to question faith, as all should
@@toastyskyshroom To question faith.
@@Im_Rainrotnot everyone worships. It’s okay. We can live fulfilling and good-intentioned lives without worship.
Let the mom know you can install a toothpaste holder to the bathroom , it’s kinda like a soap dispenser at a public restroom. I thought it was silly when I saw it at first (it was someone who was rich and lazy to push a tube) but I think it would be perfect in this situation! It might be costly but I think it would really help her in the long run and make her feel independent. That’s so important for people , independence is like freedom :)
Pin this comment !
Wonderful suggestion!
Yes! And they're not expensive at all!
@@Metaphoreign I had no idea , that’s great !
pin the comment
he never "dumbs" down the conversation with any of his new friends
agreed so much, he's very good at shifting between seriousness and excitement too, he'll completely listen to them when it's a more serious question/conversation.
This girl is pure joy, it's impossible not to like her.
Props to her fantastic family for having her in their life and to the neurosurgeons for such an amazing job.
and she still got that sass lol
"Maybe I can be positive to myself,
Maybe I can think kindly to myself."
This brought tears to my eyes. This young lady can teach us all something. Half-brain or full brain - she defo has a sweet huge heart ❤️
Epilepsy is terrible. The treatment is either being medicated for life and/or brain surgery. I had a portion of brain removed, and it changed my life forever--I cannot imagine having to go to such an extreme extent to treat such a mentally and physically draining ailment. Glad to hear she's seizure free!
Edit: Temporal lobe surgery stopped the tonic-clonics but I still get partial seizures.
I hope you're doing great now!
How old were you when you had part of your brain removed?? What kind of challenges did this create for you?? To me, it sounds scary as hell but I have seen enough seizures happen to understand why someone would make a choice to have such a surgery. I am sorry you had to go through that but if it cured a medical issue for you, I am glad you don't have to suffer with the issue anymore.
No they've actually invented a chip that can be implanted in the brain that regulates brain activity, halting seizures or lessening the frequency/severity. A girl got it done on Netflix's "Diagnosis." I'm sure not everyone is a candidate for it tho
They don't call it a disability, but it is. It affects your life in so many ways. Thankfully I'm on the other side. Last year I finally got clearance to get my learners permit. I feel like my life is just starting in my 40s. I'm finally getting my independence.
@@naturegirl2110 it really is. Even though mine has been controlled for many years, people don't realise the emotional toll it can take, knowing that you have to always be cautious to avoid triggers, I can't just relax and let loose at a college party like my friends because i have to be aware. The anxiety that one gets going to a neuro and having your meds upped because they saw some abnormalities in your EEG. It's also embarrassing because of the stigma attached. I hardly tell anyone unless I NEED to
My daughter is a similar age and has had a left hemispherotomy- she’s so similar!! Much love to this fellow hemi family! X
Much love to you and your daughter! Mikisa would love to make some online friends who are similar to her. Let me know if you're interested in having them connect. One of the parts of the interview that wasn't shown was that she was grilling Chris on how to find "community." She doesn't have many friends outside of school.
Just reactivating this thread! I hope you saw the lovely comment from Mikisa's mother regarding potentially connecting your daughters as friends!
I hope you guys got in contact :)
@@christinafeltenTHIS IS AMAZING!!!
Cuéntenos más por favor!!! Estos casos aportan algo valioso del conocimiento del cerebro 🙏🙏
I'm so glad she doesn't remember the trauma of the awful seizures. She is so smart and well spoken.
Right
no offense to her but she reminds me of a kindly old woman
Mikisa is so expressive, inquisitive, intelligent, determined, and confident. I love how she advocated for herself and wasn't afraid to ask questions - very important, profound questions. Go go go Mikisa! You have such a bright future ahead of you!
ugh so proud of her 💜
She is a sweet child but cognitively disabled. I hope she has a happy life ahead but don’t see from where you got the „such a bright future“ part.
@@Celisar1You should probably commence reading some neurology, and specifically about the relevant medical case. Otherwise, you’ll never understand what we mean.
@@IslamicSunnahGuidance you're too gentle.
more like.....@celisar go grab a dictionary, look up every word in its respective usage in relation to the OP's statement " You have such a bright future ahead of you," agree that the OP's statement is pristinely factual, and then apologize for making yourself sound like an utter and abysmal failure of a youtube commenter.
One day you will be smart enough to still go to university. God has miracles
When she said, "Oh I know! I am helpful!" I smiled so big. It was so nice to watch her start to understand the concept of affirmations and the moment where she thought of one herself. That must be so rewarding as an educator. Great job, Chris. But mostly, great job Mikisa. Don't ever stop asking questions. It is the best way to learn!
Oh my word. She's so eager to learn. She's free to say when she doesn't understand something. I'm in love with her. Watching this just melted my heart.
The one-on-one time between Mikisa and Chris was beautiful and enlightening. It shows how much she understands, but more importantly, how much she wants to learn. She'll go far and i have no doubt she will do well in an independent, semi-
supervised living situation.
You're adorable, Mikisa! 💞😊💜
What a wonderful conversation between them- great questions and great responses, from both!
"Give me some suggestions, honey." Haha, i love how she kept putting you on the spot. What a beautiful girl.
My gosh my heart melted seeing her coming up with her own affirmation, you could see how happy it made her to say that to herself
😊
😢😢 Yes ........ There's a genius in there , fight , determination
Toothpaste on the toothbrush... there are auto dispensers for toothpaste now. You place the brush under the sensor, and it places the paste on the brush. Wonderful help for those with difficulty. I purchased one for my friends son. He wanted to brush on his own as well, and has the same hinderance. He cant squeeze the tune and hold the brush too, so... a dispenser worked for him. Just a thought.
That's awesome. Would work for all types of disabilities.
Which company makes them?
@@Jane-vs3ey
Look online. There are any companies making the dispensers... a few making the pre-pasted disposables.
12:01 When she folded her arms, and said "Give me some suggestions honey"!!! My heart....:) Keeping Mr Chris on his toes. Love this family. Mikisa is lovely.
Chris truly has a gift for communicating with anyone in a respectful way , and actually connecting to them. He is so patient , so intuitive .
100 percent agree. His ability to make everyone feel comfortable is unmatched. Chris might be the kindest person to ever exist.
The fact that such an operation is possible and can leave a human body functioning so well is incredible...
Hugs from Poland!
"Give me some suggestions honey" omg I love Makisa she is hilarious such great dialogue between you two. It's amazing how strong she is and hasn't seemed to loose any personality through her struggles💕
I love that halfway through this has turned into her interviewing you.
Blatantly asking for practical suggestions is something I want to make my brain do more often!
YES.....I was laughing because she started interviewing Chris and keeping him on his toes with those questions. He couldn't by pass anything too fast before she asked, what that means or give me some suggestions Mr. Chris. I LOVE IT 😍. She's functioning fine. Out of all these many interviews he's done, I never saw him being interviewed by a possible journalist.
@@Chocolatedrop50 Each time she called him Mr. Chris, I was touched. Thanks Mom and Dad.
I’ve watched a LOT of these and they all bring me joy but man… Mikisa is pure JOY.
She is so amazing! The way she asks questions of Chris about how to be independent and positive in herself.
Yes! And she keeps asking for clarification when he says something she doesn't understand or when he doesn't answer what she was trying to ask.
Mikisa really talked Chris into a corner! You go, young woman!
And what a lovely man to embrace this special child with special needs and take on the role of her daddy. Mommy is golden, too - VERY golden!
My number one tip for working on increasing independence is talking to an occupational therapist, if that’s a possibility for their family (and if they haven’t already). I’m an occupational therapy student right now but so much of what occupational therapists work on is focused on improving quality of life and helping people of all ages and abilities to be more independent in the areas they want to!
My son struggled with completing multi step instruction, including almost all ADLs. Within 6 months, his positive progression into independence was insanely miraculous. Does it mean he can perfectly complete all ADLs without assistance or direction, no. But, I no longer have to wash his face, brush his teeth/hair, get him dressed and get his shoes on every single day.
When I was five years old, my uncle Lester had a stroke. This would have been in 1970. His occupational therapist had him make jewelry. The stroke affected his right side so it was a struggle. But he was amazing! He would buy slabs of semi precious stones and cut them and set them. I still have pieces of jewelry that he made. I was so proud of him.
As a practicing ot provider out in the world I would suggest the same thing, not just in the school setting, especially since self care is so important to her
"She's already an artist." What a cliffhanger. I'd like to see her art! 🧡
I'm hoping we get a follow up on her. She's so sweet, polite and interested in what people have to tell her and I would love to see some of her art too.
Mikisa is such a teenager. She wants to be more independent. I am so glad her parents adopted her and she is being cared for.
I’m really surprised with how intelligent she is when speaking. She could be a motivational speaker as an adult, easily.
"How do you deal with all the noise?"
"I mind my own business."
If only more people lived by this standard.
Isn't that the absolute truth! A lot of people could learn from this awesome girl 👏
She is hungry to learn and it is so beautiful I almost cried just seeing her vibrant eyes and how well she articulated herself! If I were her mom I’d be very proud of this young woman! Good job, encouraging her Chris!!!
I love that she asks for examples, it takes a smart person to ask for the answers we don't have!
Aw I love her so much. Shoutout to the family who adopted her and brought her in. It looks like she has braids so that’s really inspiring that they are still teaching her culture in her life. Make sure her hair is on point always don’t want this baby to be teased she’s such a sweetheart but kids can be mean!
It’s hard to explain how I can feel so much love for someone I don’t even know. This sweet girl is just breaking my heart with joy from how precious and happy and honest and adorable she is. Her singing to her sister and seeing the love her sisters have for her is bringing tears to my eyes. I’m so moved, just wow.
Exactly how I feel too ❤
i love how clear she is with how she speaks, even if she cant quite get the right word she knows what shes trying to say and i love the fact she will correct him every single time. i didnt even know surviving like how she does was possible, but shes more than surviving.
The fact that she is just so joyful over her dad making lunch for her everyday. Brought tears to my eyes. The simplest acts can make someone feel so incredibly loved. ❤
She's so sweet and happy, I wish nothing but the best for Mikisa and her family.
She is amazing. Her pre-surgery life sounds like it was very difficult, it's incredible how much the damaged brain must have been weighing her down. I'm happy she can live the rest of her life safe and sound with a caring family.
She’s absolutely amazing and so motivating.. prime example of what a true loving, kind human being should be.
She wants to know every single detail of how things work, she loves learning and that is truly working out in her favor ❤
I’m so so happy your seizures are all gone Mikisa! And trust me, it’s hard for a lot of us to power through all the challenges and mishaps life throws our way. You’re in good company!
I love how aware of herself she is! She speaks so well to you and really effectively communicated her thoughts and questions. She's incredible
She's so sweet. I don't know why but she gives me granny vibes when she does that, "ooo" and called Chris, "honey"😂 adorable.
This was magical to watch. Her thirst for conversation and your dialogue was everything pure in this world and the most honest example of hope and kindness i have ever seen.
So absolutely fantastic! Love her sense of humour so much! Literally laughed out loud when she called MrChris “honey”
Same! 😄
Me too! 🤗
🍯🍯🍯💁🏼
This has to be one of my very favorite interviews I’ve seen Chris facilitate, and I have watched for YEARS! This girl is a rock star! 🎉❤
Hearing her talk about how she wants to think about herself made me wonder what she does think about herself ☹️ She’s so bright in terms of intelligence AND personality, and her smile matches that personality too ♥️
Agreed, you could see her reluctance to call herself smart or strong, she wasn't happy until she found one that she agreed already described her. My aunt has an intellectual disability and she hates when people call her smart, which breaks my heart. It's clear she has an internal monologue, we will just never get to know what it's saying.
@@margaritakmp right!! The fact that the one she wanted to use was “I’m helpful” gave me some insight into the fact that she feels like her worth is tied to how much she can do for others. I hope she’s able to see how important she is regardless of how helpful she is to others. I hope the same for your aunt ☹️
@@margaritakmp I can sort of understand why someone with an intellectual disability might be uncomfortable being called smart. I guess it might feel like when people say that to you, they're implying that being smart is very important and one of the best things and that it would be very bad not to be smart? And you know that you have an intellectual disability so aren't necessarily 'smart' in the most common definition of the word. Maybe they need to have a discussion about different things people mean when they say smart?
@@shilohsmischief Being helpful is a great thing to be though! She should be proud of being helpful :). As well as many other things, not just that, but it is a good thing to be.
@@junbh2 I agree that being helpful is valuable! I also think that everyone deserves to have an identity that’s separate from what they can do for others
She is so bright. She can light up the room whoever she goes. She truly is a blessing and her parents are blessed to have her as their daughter. You can tell that she would be an amazing friend to have as well 😊
Mikisa is wonderful! I think a toothpaste dispenser that squeezes it out could be really helpful for the teeth brushing! You just put the tube into it and it works on a sensor.
That’s a great idea!
simple and effective, great idea
An awesome suggestion!
was just thinking this! great suggestion
What a sweet, outgoing young lady. She'll definitely be able to hold a job after she graduates. I wish her a lot of success!
She is so sweet, witty, and eager to learn.
Thanks!
:O!
My gym/health teacher in middle school’s son had to had this procedure due to seizures as well. I recall that he explained to the class about his sons condition and some kid asked “do you ever call him half brain?” The whole class was silent but the teacher just chuckled and said no we don’t call him that. The whole class immediately shamed and roasted him for his insensitivity. If anyone ever tries to bring you down just remember you’ll always have supporters and people to have your back! This was a great interview
Yikes! There are curious, well-meaning questions, and then there's...that kind of question. Wish I could've been a fly on the wall to witness the reaction of your empathetic class! Hope that kid learned a lesson without being too traumatized himself lol
Sorry but I burst out laughing at this comment it just sounds like awkward
It's not a crazy question for a kid who thinks abnormally. Maybe his parents point out his flaws.
I love that kids are becoming more aware and sensitive now adays. I think it's actually pretty cool that the class roasted the guy trying to clown on a disabled kid rather than laughing along with him. Good on em.
i really really really loved getting to see teacher and mentor chris not just behind the camera chris. this interaction highlighted why he’s doing what he does and why there is no one better suited for it.
Oh my heart, Mikisa you are fabulous! I loved when she said people need to ask her permission to be her friend. What an insightful reply. She knows her self worth and has great boundaries. What a beautiful, bright spark she has!
Wow this young lady is an intelligent lady, I think the questions she was asking you Chris really put you on the spot a couple of times. I am happy to see so much love in this family. The mom is great to speak intelligently when answering questions and not just saying anything just to give an answer. I wish this family lots of love and happiness for the future 💛🐝🌻
Mikisa has so much personality, and able to put into words problems that I would've struggled with. Like how she describes anxiety and the difficulty of taking care of oneself.
Her ability to voice her frustrations in a calm, cute manner when she couldn't understand the question is actually inspiring. Mom and Dad have done excellent to teach her communication skills, that myself lack. What a wonderful real and loving family.
She’s a total doll I love her personality so much ❤
Having only half your brain and being able to function as much as she can is such a blessing from God for her!!! I love how everytime it was just her and you on camera she was asking you for advice on how to make her life more independant and easier. I probably also do that if I ever got to meet you, Chris
Lol, what a blessing from God to leave a child with half of her brain. Brilliant. Do you, believers, ever hear yourself?
This is my favorite interview. She is too cute and smart
I love Mikisa...she took Chris to task. Well done Chris 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😊👍🏼😊
It was so cute that she was asking so many questions. She has such drive to learn and get better and she will do great things!!
I just LOVE ❤️ this interview! This girl is really keeping Chris on his toes! Love it! ❤️🔥
Haaahaa, that was exactly what I was thinking. She is giving Chris a run for his money, it’s keeping him on his toes. Great interview !
Oh my lord this is beautiful. What a sassy young lady! She made me laugh whenever she said "Well give me some suggestions, honey" haha it's amazing how capable she is and how much of her personality she can express by herself.
I love her so much she’s so open to learn and improve herself despite her circumstances. It’s making me tear up. We could all learn from her.
Loved this! That young lady is such a blessing, as are her parents. Chris does such a great job with these young people. I also LOVE how he always puts the captions up on the screen. Thumbs up! Beth in Raleigh, NC
As someone with a seizure disorder, mine is autoimmune encephalitis so its inflammation in my brain, I am so happy to hear she is doing so much better and hasn't relapsed. She seems to be doing really well with what she is going through, I can't imagine. I was so impressed by her speech.
Autoimmune encephalitis sounds horrible.. wish you all the best
Sending you best wishes as well!
@@bepowerification thanks, I've had it for about a year now, and now I have 4 autoimmune inflammatory conditions. I've had Crohn's for about 10 years and this one for the past year. Had 6 hospitalizations for seizures in that time. Thankfully been out since September.
@@Laura-kl7vi thank you, I'm staying strong and doing my best, my family is really helpful.
And I'm only 25
Mikisa is such a cool young woman. She so eager to learn and also very open about what she wants to learn and where she struggles. That’s an important skill!!😊 also her relationship with her mum is loving and heartwarming, I immediately texted my mum 🙈❤️
Love how eager Mikisa is to learn new things! Accommodation suggestions: Maybe try brushing with mouthwash on the toothbrush if that is easier. Or put mouthwash/toothpaste in your mouth and then brush. I believe there are also some pre-pasted brushes, and pre-portioned toothpaste dots you can chew a bit so it turns pasty. Good luck!!
Wow, what a wonderful suggestions. This community is so helpful.
Yes this is a great idea plus the suggestions for automatic toothpaste dispensing devices.
I also quickly discovered that automatic toothpaste dispensers were a thing when I was thinking about how there are automatic soap dispensers, but I can see a real benefit in learning to stick the paste in her mouth first because she can do that anywhere like a friend’s house or a hotel and not worry that she forgot the dispenser at home or whatever. Sometimes simple is better.
Mouth swabs. They have paste in them. You wet, brush, rinse brush, then dip into mouthwash.
Great suggestions! There's also toothpaste dispensers that put the right amt on the brush for u
Mikisa is adorable! Her parents seem so awesome too
I love Mikisa's energy, this interview put a big smile on my face :) with how motivated she seems to ask questions and learn, I have no doubt she will be able to achieve whatever she puts her mind to!
Ugh she is SO SMART AND SO AWESOME. I love her desire to learn and grow.
Chris, your responses were on point. So respectful, encouraging, positive and what a precious young lady and lovely family.
She's such a sweetheart and very bright she really wants to do so much on her own. I believe she's going to get better doing things on her own she has really good loving and caring parent's.
She is a beautiful teenager and I'm happy that she's thriving!
Mikisa is such an adorable young woman! Her wonderful personality just leaps off the screen. It's totally normal for a person her age to want greater independence, and she has a great attitude for going about it. Her parents were wonderful, great interactions. Such a happy video!
9:37 that made me smile so big. What great and insightful questions. She’s wonderful. She really wants to learn and she takes it all in. She will go very far
Edit: 14:41 she learned “affirmation” so quick and she had just asked what it meant. And then have a great example. I love this video!
It was so heart warming, she is such a curious and wonderful soul, and I agree, she will go far, also though because she has a spirit for learning and a wonder for the world.
I LOVE her! I start a new job as a Behavioral Intervener this month for children with diverse neurological abilities and I've been watching your interviews non-stop. Your demeanor and personal skills are incredible, and I am surely taking mental notes for when I begin my practice. Thank you for spreading awareness!
Wow, what an awesome kid!!! Mikisa's got to be one of the coolest people I've ever seen. She comes off as just mildly intellectually disabled, not /missing half her entire brain/. Mikisa is incredible, I can't believe how resilient she is. Being the person she is after that surgery 😨... It's nothing short of brilliant.
I want to give her a hug and tell her how cool I think she is. Then do a puzzle or some colouring with her. 😀
It's even more incredible when you realise that she spent the first 9 years of her life constantly having seizures day and night. It would have been very hard for her to learn in those 9 years.
I have a family history of birth defects and I've been afraid to have children in case I have a child with disabilities. Bit these interviews have shown me that people with disabilities can live good lives full of love, and I'm seriously considering having a baby because my fears have been allayed
Wow! 🙏
Autism, etc. ADHD is not a death sentence. I love to hear that do you know a lot of people have undiagnosed ADHD autism etc.
I could not help but smiling watching this sweet soul!
What a darling she is!!! And that smile brightens up the room!
Regarding the toothpaste situation: I thought about maybe fixating the toothpaste in some kind of way to a wall in the bathroom. Similar to a liquid soap dispenser. That way Mikisa could just concentrate on holding the toothbrush and pressing the toothpaste tube, instead of also having to manage coordinating the toothpaste. I don't know, just a quick idea. Anyway, this is a great interview, I really loved listening to you Mikisa! I am really happy that you have such a wonderful family around you and that you are doing so great! You go girl!
Mikisa is ADORABLE! She is incredible, considering everything she has been through - what an inspiration! Thanks for introducing Mikisa to the world, Mr. Chris!
This was such a wonderful interview :) I loved all the questions she asked, her commitment to indepence, and how much she adores her mom
Mikisa, You are so amazing, so beautiful, sweet and smart!
And Mom, you explained everything so perfectly for us who don’t understand hemispherectomy. Thank you.
Wishing you all very well, God’s blessings, and lots of love & happiness always!
I love her asking Chris for advice on how she can be more independent! The brain is pretty incredible. It must be terrifying to come to the decision to remove parts of the brain but it sounds like her quality of life is so much better now.
I watched a video about Mikisa’s adoption from Uganda many years ago. Glad to know she’s doing alright. 😊
Such a smart and beautiful girl! Imagine if all teenagers were so motivated to actively better themselves...
Oh my, just surviving cerebral malaria at all is remarkable. You're a great girl, Mikisa! Keep drawing, keep painting, keep singing! 💕😽💕
What a wonderful young lady. Thank you for letting us meet Mikisa - she is an absolute miracle and I am sending good vibes for her journey to independence from Scotland, UK! There are so many potential affirmations I learnt about her from this short video, I hope she realises how amazing she is ❤
I wish I could ask Mikisa permission to be her friend. She has such a vibrant personality! It’s inspiring. Like most if not all the people interviewed in SBSK.
Every child deserves parents like Mikisa's. They have advocated so hard for her. That's why she is functioning so well today. ❤️
This lovely young woman challenged you like no other
This was one of my favorite moments. She forced you off your usual script and owned the interview. I loved your honest conversation. You were at your best !
Stole my heart! I loved her questions for you, Chris. I hope she will take your suggestions with the daily affirmations!
I’m newly 18, so Mikisa is very close to my age. While my physical&mental disabilities are not as impactful developmentally, I struggle to be more independent and I identify so heavily with her! Wish the Family the best!!!
We can't say enough how good you are in dealing with these kids! How 'normal' you treat them! (forgive me for the word normal, I am not an English speaker so it's hard for me to proper explain myself)
The love, the patience, the guidance, the openess you give these kids just goes a long way! Keep doing what yo're doing buddy!
Normal is a wonderful word to use! You said it perfectly! Your English is fantastic!
Phenomenal English, my friend
Oh man, this has me laughing and crying and I can’t put into words how awesome it is to see Mikisa living her amazing life