Molly's Kids: 28-year-old survived Shaken Baby Syndrome; hopeful about new treatment

FORT MILL, SC (WBTV) - Fort Mill's Amanda Moral survived Shaken Baby Syndrome. At the age of 28 she has far outlived her prognosis, but is now highly concerned about what's in her future.

When Amanda was a baby, her father severely shook her while her mom, Virginia, was out working. Amanda survived the abuse, but at the age of four had her first seizure. It has slowly and steadily gotten worse. She says she is now up to sometimes 60 seizures a day. She also has memory loss and is starting to have heart issues.

Long ago Virginia divorced her husband. Couple years ago Virginia says she had to stop work to take care of Amanda full-time; months ago they ended up moving in with friends.

Until recently, Amanda was a student at Central Piedmont Community College with a 3.8 GPA, but says her condition forced her to stop going just one class shy of graduation.

I did some research. Google says most babies who suffer from Shaken Baby Syndrome don't make it to the age of 12.

It's as if what doctors predicted would happen by 12 is happening now.

An upsetting story to say the least -- but Amanda says she's hopeful.

She and her mom researched an adult stem cell treatment that seems to be working in others. It is not FDA approved, but is offered right now from an American doctor working in the Dominican Republic. Amanda doesn't know if it could work for her... but she'd love to find out.

Amanda says the process would basically take Amanda's own stem cells from her bone marrow and insert them into her brain stem.

She is scheduled to start this treatment on Monday, January 25th.

There are still some complications in getting there… travel... her health... it's uncertain if Amanda can definitely go.  Either way, her story is worth sharing. Just getting to where she is now -- again, 28 years old -- is remarkable.  It's a real journey of strength.

Hopefully it works out, Amanda.  Safe travels (if you go). Especially with this weather forecast.

Please let us know.  I'd love to follow up.

#MollysKids

**Editor's note: This is about one of #MollysKids, children WBTV Anchor Molly Grantham follows closely on her Facebook page. It was first published there – which is why it's written in a personal way. For years Molly has followed hundreds of kids with uphill medical battles. Find this story and updates on all #MollysKids here.**