The wind beneath our wings...

When we think back on all the things that we have been able to accomplish, we only  think of epilepsy as a very small part of an enormous picture.

Let me first describe the seizures that my son  has experienced. He started having convulsions when he was eight months old. He had an extremely high temperature and a convulsion occurred. He had been sleeping when I heard noises in his room. He was gasping for air. His body was stiff. I thought he was dying. We rushed him to the hospital. He was placed in cold packs for what seemed like hours. It is hard to remember all that happened that evening - I just remember feeling like he was going to die. He was only eight months old!! He was admitted, put on medication and into an oxygen tent he was in hospital for three days and then was released with a clean bill of health.  

I was only 18 years old. I knew my son had been dangerously ill, but he was healthy again. I pushed the convulsion into the back of my mind and rarely thought about it again.

Later, he started having small seizures. These were very mild and if you did not realise what was happening, you would have thought he was just daydreaming. He would smack and lick his lips, grind his teeth slightly and stare off into space. After a period of about five to ten minutes he would return to normal and be extremely tired.

As time went by he had big seizures. These were quite severe. His body would shake in erratic movements. He would make sounds and bite his tongue. Sometimes he would have one a week, sometimes three or four a day.

At high school he was on the football team and was an excellent team player. His team mates all knew of his condition and watched out for him. His will to succeed has never failed him.

I wish I could tell the world what a caring, affectionate, courageous person he is. He loves people and most who know him love him and miss him when he is not around.   Epilepsy has caused him a lot of pain and heartache, but it has also made him strong. 

There are many conditions which affect our young people. All disorders involving young children are devastating and heartbreaking. No matter what these children are brave and strong. They are all natural fighters. They are all winners in a very special way. All the children who suffer from these conditions are very special. They are all the “Wind Beneath Our Wings”