Robot changes neurosurgery patient's lives for the better

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital has new technology advancing treatment for kids with brain disorders. It's a robot named Rosa.

Shawn Smith's son Aaron has a better life thanks to Rosa.

"It's been like night and day compared to where he was, and where he is at now," his father Mathew Smith said.

Aaron is 7-years-old, but when was born, doctors quickly discovered a brain defect that caused him to have seizures.

"He could have anywhere from 10 seizures a day, right behind each other," Shawn explained.

Aaron needed a difficult brain surgery, but the surgery is made easier thanks to Rosa, a state-of-the-art robotic neurosurgery system.

"It has a tube that, when the surgeon goes to drill, it drills down that tube so that it drills at exactly the right angle and exactly the right depth," Dr. Parrish Winesett said.

The robot creates a virtual reality image of the brain to help doctors diagnose the problem and get the information that they need.

"We designed the exact pathway we wanted these wires to take within his brain. To miss blood vessels, to miss important structures," Dr. Winesett said.

Aaron's parents were skeptical at first, but after researching Rosa they felt very comfortable with the procedure.

"In the beginning, of course, you know, as a parent, it sounds very scary," Shawn said.

"He is talking up a storm and he was barely talking when we first started," Mathew added of Aaron's recovery and growth.

Aaron is now swinging to higher heights and a brighter future, thanks to capable doctors, loving parents and Rosa.

"This machine, this Rosa worked out great for him," Shawn said.