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HOME/Rare and Complex Conditions/Lily’s Journey with Linear Nevus Sebaceous Syndrome

Lily’s Journey with Linear Nevus Sebaceous Syndrome

May 5, 2015
13 Comments
By: Brandi Hall

Lily is a smart, active two year old and the light of my life. If you meet her, you might also notice that she has large, flesh-colored lesions on her face, head and neck.

She was born with linear nevus sebaceous syndrome. In addition to the lesions, the syndrome also affects her central nervous system and eyes. Around three months of age she started having focal seizures and then around 6 months she had infantile spasms.

I had a normal pregnancy and didn’t learn of her condition until after she was born. I of course had all of those self-doubts that many mothers have when their babies are born with a condition. What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently? I was told that nevus sebaceous has no known cause, occurs within the first six weeks of gestation, and there was nothing I did to cause it.

Once Lily received her initial diagnosis, I asked the doctor in our hometown of Whitesburg, Kentucky, if she was going to live. He said yes, there is no reason to believe that she won’t live a full life. From that point forward, I knew that so long as that’s true, we can handle whatever is to come.

Like many parents facing a very rare condition, we started the process by doing some research. We found our way to Cincinnati Children’s because we read about the experience Dr. Kara Shah in dermatology has with this rare syndrome.

Despite Lily’s condition, I don’t consider her different than any other child. She just has a few more obstacles. Let me tell you about the ones she’s been through so far.

She’s had a total of 10 or 11 small procedures as well as drug therapy to control her seizures. Her doctors in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center were able to find a drug, Sabril, to successfully end her seizures as of July 2013.

Once the seizures were under control, we were able to start thinking about how to remove the nevi, or lesions. Because the nevi can become irritated and painful, as well as develop into skin cancer in her teenage years, we decided to embark upon a multi-step procedure to remove them.

That’s when we were referred to Dr. Sitzman in plastic surgery. He recommended that Lily undergo tissue expansion to ultimately remove the nevi. Essentially what’s involved is expanding the skin so much that there is enough for the surgeon to completely cut off the nevi and attach the healthy skin together.

The process of stretching the skin is pretty remarkable. It’s not painful for Lily at all but it does require her to sit still. It’s about a 30 minute process and it takes two of us. We first start with a numbing cream and then distract her with either the TV or the iPad. One of us holds her still while the other fills the 10 ml syringes with saline and then attaches it into the butterfly needle. The expanders are filled through a port little by little until the skin has been expanded enough for Dr. Sitzman to perform the surgical procedure.

She has undergone two surgical procedures to remove the nevi. The first was April 2014 which removed 60% of the lesions and the second on April 29, 2015. She’ll need at least one or two more rounds of the tissue expansion and surgery to remove the remaining nevus on her left cheek, a small patch on the right cheek, on her neck, chest, and left shoulder.

We feel very fortunate to have found the resources Lily needed. She may have some more hurdles ahead of her – some developmental milestones to catch up on – but we are happy with the progress she has made so far in her journey.

When people ask me what it’s like to have a child with this condition, or how I deal with it, the answer is simple. I am positive I was chosen to be her mother for a reason. Maybe it was to share her story in order to educate others about people with special needs. Maybe it’s because I am a special needs teacher and I already had perspective. Regardless of the reason, I wouldn’t change any of it for any reason. All of these different parts, all of the things she’s had to go through, make her who she is. She’s Lily, and she’s awesome.

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TAGS:
  • dermatology
  • epilepsy
  • plastic surgery

About the author: Brandi Hall

Brandi Hall is a wife, mother and special education teacher in Whitesburg, Kentucky. She is a strong advocate for her two-year-old daughter, Lily, who has a rare condition called linear nevus sebaceous syndrome.

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Comments

Marcia Ducker May 6, 2015 at 5:51 pm

Lily is my great great niece & she is one of the sweetest babies that I have come in contact with! To be around her gives you such joy. She laughs all the time and she has never acted like she was different than any other baby. I have only been around her a couple of times because I live out of state, but I keep up with her through the family. I praise God that he chose our family to place her in & I thank him for choosing Brandi & Nick for her parents & all of her grandparents & great grandparents . She is such a little trooper and I know that life is so much sweeter for all of them with our precious Lily in it.

Teresa Bentley MD May 14, 2015 at 11:15 am

Brandi I am the sister-in-law of Gaye Bentley and a dermatologist I have removed several of these smaller lesions as well as observed many over time. I removed one which had developed a basal cell skin cancer from an 8yr old boy years ago Saw him recently as a mid-30s year old man who reminded me and showed me his scar. In addition, I’ve worked with patients who have used a series of tissue expander assisted surgeries to remove other dangerous congenital nevi. There is a future ahead for all of you. This precious little girl will grow up and you and she will share this story of triumph and grace. My prayers are with you. Thanks you for sharing and I will stay in your circle of faith I hope

Leo George July 26, 2015 at 7:55 am

Brandi, you and Nick are an inspiration to us all! I love you!

Uncle Leo

Mary Jo January 1, 2016 at 9:53 am

I found this very interesting . My son was born with one on his head. They tested it when he was an infant told me it was a nevus sebaceous and he would need to have it removed by puberty. At age 8 he started having grand mal seizures. He currently tAkes medication to prevent them and he goes to a pediatric neurologis. No one has mentioned this could be linked. You’ve got me thinking to check into it.

    Jade November 12, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    Hi my son got diagnosed with this today and it’s on his scalp he is 4 months old I know this post is from 2015 but it’s so hard to find information on it, I’m just wondering where your sons was on his head and was it big or small?

NM February 10, 2016 at 8:14 am

Brave little girl. Inspiring story. Great parents.

Becky March 2, 2017 at 11:25 pm

Hi. My daughter was just diagnosed with double cortex syndrome. I’m not sure if you’re heard of this, but it’s a rare neurological syndrome. We found out when she just out of nowhere started seizing. She is 3 and she was born with a nevus sebacious on her face… now I’m wondering if the 2 are related… do you have any thoughts on this? Thank you

    Avatar photo
    Rachel Camper March 8, 2017 at 8:38 am

    Hi Becky,

    Please reach out to our Comprehensive Epilepsy Center so that we can learn more about your daughter’s situation and how we might be able to assist you. To speak with a specialist or make an appointment, call 513-636-4222 or fill out the online request form for more information: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/c/epilepsy/contact

Jean April 22, 2017 at 11:08 pm

My daughter was diagnosed with the same syndrome. She is now 24 years old. She has been on a variety of medications, even sabril when it was a brand new drug. It is very encouraging to see how far the medical field has come pertaining to this syndrome.

Phyllis Kizior July 17, 2018 at 1:32 am

I am glad to be one of many visitors on this outstanding website(:, thanks for posting.

Sally April 8, 2019 at 5:37 pm

Brandi, Thank you for sharing your heart felt experiences with your daughter Lily. My grandson was diagnosed with LNSS along with a heart condition. He also had several surgeries to remove nevus patches using the same procedures you mentioned. He seems to be developing well neurologically with the exception of delayed expressive speech, however his receptive language is amazing. At two and a half he began having seizures. Currently, he’s had three separate episodes. He is taking Keppra twice daily to help, however he just had another. We immediately gave him diastat as prescribed after the first seizure. This syndrome is so frustrating because I want to know everything I can to help my sweet little buddy. He will be three in June and I look forward to new medical break throughs to help these amazing children. You have a new follower!! Please keep sharing!

Carol R January 1, 2021 at 5:53 pm

My daughter Ky was diagnosed with LNSS at the age of 9. She had spasms as a young child, but never a seizure. She could not..and still cannot keep up with children her own age. She has difficulties doing things with her hands..washing her hair, blow drying, etc…We had her spot removed. She is an amazing person….They all are!

Hannah November 19, 2022 at 3:55 pm

Hi Brandi,

Thank you so much for posting this about your beautiful daughter. Our daughter was diagnosed with this yesterday. She’s only 3 weeks old and I have been frantically searching the Internet to find someone else in the same situation. My partner and I are terrified as we feel so hopeless and clueless about the situation.
Please keep posting about Lily we would love to know of her progress.
Thank you.

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