Epilepsy; We Need a Cure

Epilepsy is a terrible disease.  I never knew how horrible it was until my son was diagnosed with it at age 4.  With so few pediatric neurologists in our area we did not have many to choose from.  His first neurologist not only did not help him but she made us feel as though he it was are fault and my son's fault. He was having two seizures every minute at times.  His life was put on hold.  So was ours.

We fought a long battle and because of my husbands endless insistence he now is being treated at Loma Linda Hospital and getting great care.  Unfortunately, the great neurologist that he has been seeing there has moved out of state so we are back to searching for a replacement.

While my son is not cured, he is now on medication that is somewhat controlling the seizures.  The worst part is dealing the affects that the seizures have had on his frontal lobe.  He has severe behavioral problems and lost most of his fine and gross motor skills.  Being in kindergarten, this has made his life very difficult.

Epilepsy affects more people in America then cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy,  multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's put together.  Every day about 500 people are newly diagnosed.  Severe cases can lead to brain damage and learning delays.  People with epilepsy are more depressed than others and have a two thirds higher death rate.  These facts are not only alarming, they are calling out for more research and also for a cure.

Research for epilepsy is very under funded.  Much  more federal money is spent researching other diseases that have fewer people affected by then.  I say it is time put things in perspective.  We need more neurologists, more funding and more research.  We need a cure.