Second opinion leads to solution

Dr. Daniel Fulkerson and Lydia Williams

In 2018, Lydia Williams began having balance issues. She was a healthy teenager and a high school competitive swimmer. Her ability to maintain balance escalated and by September 2021, she was unable to walk, says her mother, Sarah. Soon Lydia had to use a wheelchair.

The family lives in Chicago and sought treatment there. At first, doctors were unsure what the problem was, but a lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt was placed in her head. There was some improvement. Then, after their doctor went on medical leave, a different doctor removed the LP shunt, thinking it was unnecessary. However, things did not improve.

Two weeks after they turned off the shunt, there was no plan. Lydia felt helpless and said the thought, “I don’t know what I’m going to do and now I don’t’ know how I’m going to get out of this.”

About a year earlier, a family friend had told Lydia’s parents about Daniel Fulkerson, MD. Sarah says they watched his biography video and decided they needed to talk to him. They traveled to South Bend in November 2022.

“We needed an expert who was a good listener,” Sarah says. “We can’t tell you how thankful we were for his serious approach,” Sarah says. “He treated Lydia with such professionalism and care.”

Dr. Fulkerson saw the imaging and history and knew what to do, Sarah says. He identified the problem as hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Within a week’s time, he place a Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, followed by a Chiari decompression surgery.

After talking to him, Lydia felt pretty immediately that she was in good hands. “It was one of those feelings that will stay with me for a long time.”

Lydia is now 21 years old, has had some ups and down, but continues to work on relearning to walk and talk.

“I’m always up for a physical and mental challenge,” Lydia says. “The athlete in me loves the process. Most people don’t get to learn how to walk and talk and remember doing it.”

She is also setting goals for herself, like attending her sister’s wedding in March, which she was able to do, and getting her college degree. She is a junior in Liberty University’s online program where she is a double major in Bible and religious studies.

The family was impressed with the care they received, describing all the staff as very helpful, the nurses as caring, and the facilities as great. Lydia said Dr. Fulkerson was so experienced and amazing at what he does.

“The care [at Memorial] felt so personal,” Lydia says. “Beacon is amazing.”