A 6-year-old girl from Aledo, Texas is recovering very well after undergoing surgery on Wednesday to remove the right side of her brain.

Jessie Hall suffers from Rasmussen’s encephalitis, a progressive inflammation of the part of the brain called cerebral cortex, which is made up of a right and a left hemisphere. The rare disease slows mobility and eats away the brain. Although RE is most often diagnosed in children under the age of 10, it can also start in adolescence and adulthood, affecting one person in every 500,000 to 1,000,000.

On Wednesday, Jessie underwent successful surgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. During the surgery, neurosurgeon Ben Carson removed the right side of her brain, a complicated procedure called hemispherectomy. The removal is intended to stop the uncontrollable seizures, local newspaper Dallas Morning News reports.

The left side of Jessie’s brain most likely will take over the tasks of the missing side of the brain. The surgery, of course might have serious side effects, such as paralysis, but it was the girl’s only chance for a better life, Carson said. However, after the surgery, he said he “expects great things” referring to the girl’s recovery.

Every patient undergoing such surgery responds differently to treatment. Jessie’s family and friends are hoping she will be able to recover completely and start a new life.