Brianna Bodley, 6, undergoes 'life-saving surgery' that sees doctors disconnect HALF HER BRAIN to save her from a disease that impacts 500 kids a year

A 6-year-old California girl with an incredibly rare disease had half of her brain disconnected by doctors in what experts are calling a 'life-changing surgery.' 

Brianna Bodley, 6, recently underwent a ten-hour surgery at Loma Linda University Health to treat her Rasmussen's Encephalitis - an inflammatory disease that impacts just 500 children in the United States each year. 

Brianna used to experience daily seizures, paralysis and encountered learning disabilities prior to going on anti-seizure medication and steroids. 

Through surgery, however, her medical team - including neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Robison - has given the girl a new life - one with only half her brain at work. 

'Brianna will still be the same person, even after disconnecting half her brain,' Robison said, explaining how the inflammation previously caused brain shrinkage. 

Brianna Bodley, 6, had half of her brain disconnected by doctors in what experts are calling a 'life-changing surgery' to treat her Rasmussen's Encephalitis

Brianna is on her way back to living a normal life after the ten-hour surgery

Through surgery, Brianna's medical team - including neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Robison (pictured) - has given the girl a new life - one with only half her brain at work

Robison demonstrates how he disconnected half of Briana's brain to stop her disease

Talking with ABC 7 Los Angeles, Brianna's mother, Crystal Bodley, said the young girl essentially had the left side of her body 'turned off' after the surgery. 

Doctors expect some side effects, including the potential loss of some peripheral vision and some fine motor skills in her left hand. 

Through physical therapy, her doctors and family believe she will be able to gain most of her normal life back and remain seizure free. 

It was the best possible outcome for the child, who is already back on her feet just days after the complicated and time-consuming procedure. 

In photos and videos posted to Crystal's Facebook, Brianna can be seen eating mashed potatoes from her hospital bed and walking with the help of her mom. 

'Our baby girl is starting to walk with support,' Crystal wrote. 'She is still sleep majority of the day but, not wasting any time she is awake.' 

'Who needs Inpatient rehab when she has mommy,' the proud mom shared. 

'Happy her brain has already starting to make the connection that she has a left side of her body to be controlled with the left brain,' Crystal continued. 

It would appear everything is going according to Brianna's medical team's plans.  

'Just disconnecting it is enough to stop the disease completely and essentially, potentially cure it,' Dr. Robison said of the surgery. 

Before doctors gained the ability to disconnect a portion of the brain during a hemispherectomy, surgeons would completely remove half of the brain. 

Surgeons enter the cranium through an opening called the sylvian fissure that allows doctors to cut away white matter from the thalamus. 

From there, Robison disconnected the left side of Brianna's brain, which allows the right side take control and regain functionality for the body. 

Brianna was feeding herself just days after the surgery where half her brain was disconnected

Doctors expect some side effects, including the potential loss of some peripheral vision and some fine motor skills on her left hand. Pictured: Brianna five days after her procedure

Brianna with her mom, Crystal Bodley in a photo posted to Facebook

In photos and videos posted to Crystal's Facebook, Brianna can be seen eating mashed potatoes from her hospital bed and walking with the help of her mom

The scar from Brianna's hemispherectomy in September

'Brianna will still be the same person, even after disconnecting half her brain,' Robison said, explaining how the inflammation previously caused brain shrinkage

Brianna was transferred home to begin rehab just a week after the surgery took place

Brianna's family says they are excited to see their little girl get to experience childhood again after a year of medical issues. 

'I just want to see her little Brianna running around doing her artwork and having the fun she always had,' said her grandmother, Chris Breheim. 

Prior to the surgery, the girl would experience troubles with her motor functions that left her at the whim of her rare disease. 

'Her leg would bend up all the time, she would have trouble walking,' Crystal said.

Brianna began undergoing treatment with medication in January but the disease kept progressing, leaving doctors with no other viable options.  

'She would talk to me sometimes and said she was scared, but I told her, "I know it's scary, but you will be okay,"' said Brianna's sister, Torie Bodley. 

The initial medications Brianna took caused the little girl to gain weight and grow out of her clothes, prompting one business to step in with an act of kindness. 

Helpful Honda came to the family's San Bernardino home and gave Brianna a whole new wardrobe, complete with dresses, skirts and pajamas.

The community has rallied around the young girl and her family during their time of need, but the expenses have still piled up. 

Crystal started a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of medical expenses, which has only raised $4,800 of its $20,000 goal as of October.  

Crystal started a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of medical expenses, which has only raised $4,800 of its $20,000 goal as of October

Prior to her Rasmussen's Encephalitis diagnosis, Brianna loved singing and dancing

Brianna was gifted a new wardrobe following her medications causing her to gain weight 

'I just want to see her little Brianna running around doing her art work and having the fun she always had,' said grandmother Chris Breheim

Doctors expect Brianna to be able to live an almost completely normal life

The road ahead is long still for Brianna and her family but there is now a light at the end of the tunnel for the girl to get back to a normal childhood. 

'So proud of her,' Crystal wrote in one Facebook post. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, 66 percent of children who undergo a hemispherectomy become completely seizure free after the procedure. 

Another 15 to 20 percent of patients see a 'substantial reduction.'