Local Eyes Neurosurgery Career After Life-Saving Surgery

Thirteen years after having a craniotomy performed by a pediatric neurosurgeon, current Indiana University sophomore and former Harbor Country Day School student Michelle Lazar is trying her hand in the field that saved her life.

Dr. Michael Egnor, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital, performed the surgery on the then six-year-old Lazar in Nov. 1998.

After being found on the bathroom floor following a practice with the swim team at Half Hollow Hills High School, she was unable to use the left side of her body.

Lazar was taken by helicopter to the hospital where surgery was performed on a right intracranial bleed and she remained in a medically induced coma for a week, paralyzed on her left side.

After surgery, Lazar went through rehabilitation at St. Charles Hospital, supervised by Dr. Patricia Tan, and treated by current Director of the Neuropsychology Service in the Department of Neurology at Stony Brook University Thomas Preston.

Since the incident in 1998, Lazar has regained almost all of her motor skills.

"The wonderful treatment given saved my life and will allow me to help others in the future," Lazar said.

Aside from studying neuroscience, Lazar is looking into mulling pre-medical educational options including neurological rehabilitation, neurology, occupational therapy and more, and is taking courses at Stony Brook University this summer in organic chemistry and biology.

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