A Safer Home, A Brighter Future: Myla Speer's Story

Since she was just 8 months old, 10-year-old Myla Speer of Greensburg, Indiana, has faced a daily reality most of us can barely imagine. Diagnosed with Sturge Weber Syndrome, Myla has lived with seizures and stroke-like episodes that cause weakness on her left side. For Myla and her family, every day has carried the quiet, constant fear of SUDEP, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

This year, the Speer family took a major step toward a healthier future for Myla. She underwent a right side hemispherectomy, a significant brain surgery performed in Boston. The procedure required the family to relocate for 6 to 8 weeks while Myla recovered and began rehabilitation, far from the comfort of home and everyday support systems.

Surgery was only part of the journey. To welcome Myla home safely, the family needed to modify their bathroom, installing handrails and replacing the bathtub to make it accessible for her needs during recovery and beyond.

That is where the Garrett Family Foundation's Immediate Impact program moved into the picture. GFF completed these essential bathroom modifications, creating a space where Myla can move safely and confidently as she continues to heal.

The results speak for themselves. According to Myla’s mother Molly, Myla is doing amazing. She is working hard in therapy, growing stronger every day, and the bathroom renovation is complete and ready for her to use safely at home.

The Speer family hopes their story helps raise awareness of Sturge Weber Syndrome, a rare condition that changed the course of their lives but did not take away their hope. Their journey is a powerful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together to support a child's health, safety, and future.