Triathlete Puts Epilepsy
Way
Behind Him
With each triathlon he concludes, Andrew Hibbitt puts
more distance between the aspiring pro athlete he is
today and his childhood self – the boy with epilepsy
who could not run, swim or bike without fear.
Andrew’s seizures began when he was 6 and progressed
over the years despite medications. A child who loved
sports and being active, he recalls being pulled to safety
from a pool after he had a seizure while swimming
and the time a seizure caused him injury when he
tumbled from his bike. Each year seemed to bring more
limitations and by the time Andrew was in high school,
he was collapsing at school when seizures struck.
Doctors at Miami Children’s Brain Institute, led by
Dr. Trevor Resnick, Chief of the Department of Neurology,
suggested that surgery might offer Andrew, then 17, the
chance for a normal life. Sophisticated brain mapping
at the hospital’s highly ranked neurology/neurosurgery
program revealed that the malfunctioning tissue could
be surgically removed, but was situated very close to
areas of the brain associated with motor skills. The
Hibbitts entrusted Andrew to neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjiv
Bhatia, a member of the institute’s team of nationally
renowned neurosurgeons. The young Miami Springs
triathlete’s life today is testament to the surgery’s
success and the world-class care provided by the
entire multidisciplinary team of epileptologists, nurses,
imaging technicians and more.
Now 23, Andrew has been a top finisher in triathlons
in Florida, Iowa and South Carolina. He competes in
approximately 12 events per year with his eye now
on achieving professional status. Given his recent
top-of-age group and top-three performances in several
events, the goal seems well within reach for Andrew,
who is still a relative newcomer to the sport.
Wherever his competitive nature takes him, Andrew
knows he has a large cheering section at Miami
Children’s Hospital.
“It’s great to be
able to compete
without fear that
my body will let me
down. I never have
to worry anymore.”
Andrew Hibbitt
Strive
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