18 June 2025

30-year-old Jammie-Lee is embracing life with a renewed sense of freedom, confidence and independence after undergoing specialist epilepsy surgery at Austin Health in late 2024. 

The surgery follows more than a decade of misdiagnoses, escalating seizures and hallucinations - a story Jammie-Lee shared last year after finally receiving an accurate diagnosis through Austin Health’s world-renowned Bladin-Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and the Australian Epilepsy Project (AEP) at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. 

In October 2024, Jammie-Lee underwent a specialist procedure known as a left anterior temporal lobectomy - a decision she made with her children, Bailey (8) and Byron (6), in mind. 

"I just looked at my kids and thought, I’ve got to do it. If it gives me a chance at being a better mum and I can live more with them and do more with them, then that's what I'll do," said Jammie-Lee. 

Led by Neurosurgeon Mr Kristian Bulluss and Epilepsy Neurologist Dr Saul Mullen, the surgery aimed to better control the seizures arising from the left temporal lobe of her brain - seizures that had impacted her life for more than a decade. 

“A left temporal lobectomy is a highly specialised procedure, but for patients like Jammie-Lee, it can be transformative,” said Mr Bulluss. 

“We were able to remove the affected area of her brain responsible for her seizures, and she’s made an excellent recovery.” 

Now, Jammie-Lee is enjoying the everyday moments that used to feel out of reach. 

“Epilepsy affected my life so much, and when it was gone, I felt so incredibly happy that I can now be more of the mum that I want to be. I can finally do stuff in my life.” 

“The amount of time that I’ve been able to spend with my kids doing fun, different, creative things that they want to do, has made me so happy. In the past because I was having so many seizures, I wasn’t able to.” 

Jammie-Lee with her two children Bailey and Byron

Austin Health’s integrated epilepsy program plays a critical role in delivering life-changing outcomes for patients. By combining expert clinical care, advanced imaging and diagnostics, and close collaboration with research partners like the Australian Epilepsy Project, the program ensures patients receive an accurate diagnosis and a tailored treatment plan – including surgery when appropriate. 

For patients like Jammie-Lee, it offers a real chance at living seizure-free. 

Reflecting on her experience, Jammie-Lee hopes her story encourages others facing the challenges of epilepsy to seek expert care. 

“If my story can help someone else get the right diagnosis and treatment sooner, then sharing it is worth it.”