Charli’s Comeback

When 5-year-old Charlotte, or Charli, Hilz wakes up each morning, she checks the family calendar to see what’s happening that day. She knows what’s for breakfast before anyone else. She loves musicals, coloring, and playing outside. Her joy is contagious. But just a couple years ago, a mysterious and terrifying medical condition threatened to dim her brightness.

“She’s always been a kid who thrives on structure,” says her dad, Trevor. “But she started having these strange moments where she’d just freeze or fall over. At first, we didn’t understand what we were seeing.”

Challenges Emerge

Charli had her first seizure at her grandparents’ house. Her grandmother, Kathy, recalls walking her to bed when Charli suddenly raised her arms in a startled reflex. “I just knew something wasn’t right,” Kathy shares. “My gut told me something was off.”

That day marked the beginning of what would become a long and terrifying journey for the family. At just two years old, Charli began having various types of seizures, including frequent episodes where she would stare and become unresponsive, drop seizures that caused her to suddenly collapse, and eventually convulsive seizures.

As these episodes became more frequent and pronounced, Charli’s family sought medical help. However, they were initially dismissed. “Doctors told us, ‘We don’t think you know what a seizure looks like,’” explains Mackenzie, Charli’s mom. “But we knew. We were seeing them. Every day.”

A Family’s Search for Answers

Over time, Charli’s condition worsened. Her seizures became more frequent, and her development began to regress. She lost her ability to walk steadily, her speech became difficult to understand, and she could no longer use her left hand. Under the guidance of doctors in Dallas, Charli was prescribed seven different medications, recommended dietary changes, and even put on steroids that caused rapid weight gain and mood changes— all with no improvement.

“I remember pushing her around the house in a stroller while I packed for another hospital visit,” Mackenzie recalls. “She wanted to help, but she couldn’t walk.”

At one point, Charli was having up to 20 seizures a day.

“We lived in constant fear,” Mackenzie shares. “It felt like we were losing her. She was becoming this beautiful, amazing little girl—and then we’d watch her slip backwards. We didn’t know how far she’d fall.”

A New Hope

Everything changed when Kathy’s sister, a medical provider at Dell Children’s Medical Center, referred the family to UT Health Austin pediatric epileptologist Dave Clarke, MD, Chief of the Dell Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center within UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin.

“For the first time, we felt heard,” says Mackenzie. “Dr. Clarke believed us. He looked at her and us and said, ‘I have a plan.’ We hadn’t heard that from anyone before.”

Dr. Clarke diagnosed Charli with focal onset epilepsy. “Her condition was very complex because it was difficult to tell if these seizures were something she could outgrow or if they would persist and resist medication,” he explains.

A particularly alarming aspect of Charli’s condition was the frequent abnormal brain activity during sleep, which significantly contributed to her developmental regression. “She was experiencing discharges during sleep more than 50% of the time, which severely affected her thinking and development,” explains Dr. Clarke. “Her brain just couldn’t rest.”

Beyond Medication: The Case for Surgery

After exhausting all medical options, Dr. Clarke recommended brain surgery. While the idea was terrifying at first, the family knew the risk of not proceeding was far greater.

“There were two paths: keep trying meds that weren’t working or take a terrifying leap,” says Mackenzie. “We took the leap, and it saved her life.”

The seizure source was located very close to Charli’s sensory cortex, making traditional surgical removal too risky.

“We needed precision. That’s where ablation came in,” explains Dr. Clarke.

Instead of removing brain tissue, the team performed a minimally invasive laser ablation procedure. They threaded a needle-sized probe into a narrow area between brain folds to heat and deactivate the misfiring cells.

“We ablated a very small section, saving everything around it,” says Dr. Clarke. “She didn’t just avoid loss of function. Everything actually improved.”

This innovative approach was only possible because of the team’s advanced diagnostic tools and deep collaboration.

“We work on a level playing field,” says Dr. Clarke of the UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s team. “Neurosurgeons, epileptologists, neuropsychologists, social workers—we all collaborate with the child and family at the center.”

A Joyful Recovery

Charli’s surgery was a success by all accounts; she hasn’t had a seizure since the week after the procedure.

“The day after surgery, she picked up a coloring book and was able to color inside the lines,” says Kathy. “That had never happened before. It was like something had been unlocked.”

Today, Charli is thriving. She runs, swims, plays soccer, and helps in the kitchen.

“She wants to do everything,” says Trevor. “She’s doing better than we ever imagined she could be.”

Her therapists have steadily reduced her sessions because she’s progressing so quickly.

“She’s 110% now,” Mackenzie adds. “Dr. Clarke gave us our daughter back.”

The UT Health Austin Difference

Charli’s recovery was made possible by the expertise and collaboration of the UT Health Austin physicians. As the clinical practice of Dell Medical School, UT Health Austin offers specialized, academic-driven care that changes lives.

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive care that addresses not just the seizures, but the overall well-being of the child,” Dr. Clarke adds. “By integrating advanced diagnostics, innovative treatments, and family support, we aim to restore quality of life.”

For Charli and her family, that mission led to a life-changing outcome.

“We’ll never be able to thank them enough,” says her grandmother, Kathy. “They didn’t just save her life—they gave us our granddaughter back. It really is a miracle.”

For more information about the Dell Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center within UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s, please call 1-512-628-1855 or visit here.