Dr. Aria Fallah, a pediatric neurosurgeon at UCLA, discovered a benign mass was causing 9-year-old Justin’s giggling fits. They were actually seizures and signs of a serious medical problem. “Justin had what’s known as gelastic epilepsy, which was caused by a benign mass called a hypothalamic hamartoma, deep inside his brain,” Fallah said. Tests showed that Justin had a benign mass called a hypothalamic hamartoma deep inside his brain. The condition rarely responds to medication, which makes surgery the only treatment option. So Fallah and his colleagues used a cutting-edge technique designed to minimize the risks and dramatically speed up Justin’s recovery. Now, whenever Justin giggles, it’s simply because he’s happy.