Paradox of Seizures

Seizures: Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures (convulsions) over time. Seizures are episodes of disturbed brain activity that cause changes in attention or behavior.

Paradox: “A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true. An assertion that is essentially self-contradictory, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.”

When Adam first started having seizures in 2001 we were horrified and wracked with confusion. For anyone who has seen another individual have a seizure it is a very uncomfortable situation; there is not much you can do, you feel helpless; the old idea that they are going to swallow their tongue is a myth… so don’t put a bite block in their mouth.

For a parent to see their child experience a seizure, your emotional involvement is raised several magnitudes.. by factors of 10. I don’t think I can adequately express, nor are there words to describe the inner emotions you go through when you see your little boy or girl convulsing uncontrollably in front of you. The sheer terror of a scream in the middle of the night to come quickly… ” It’s Adam.” You just pray to God that it will stop. You pray that you might have your child back without too much damage. You worry that he might have a seizure in front of his peers and they will think that he is weird and will not want to associate with or invite him to their events… the list goes on.

For the past ten years we have fought a war against seizures, we have spent tens of thousands of dollars to keep them at bay. Days, weeks and months have been spent in doctors offices, pharmacies, and hospitals in hopes of controlling the demon that rages just under the surface, ready to explode at any time transforming our little boy from normal to social refugee.

Tonight we find ourselves living in a paradox, normally we flee and distance Adam from the world of seizures, but tonight we seek to embrace them; we find ourselves welcoming this dark companion from the shadows of our troubles.  You see, in order to battle this demon we have to meet on common ground, a battle ground and that battle ground is the surface of Adam’s brain. We are calling the demon out, we are lowering our defenses and inviting him to the fight.  Once he fires off his weapons of electrical energy we will know his hiding places and we will map them and destroy them.

By placing the 108 electrodes on Adams brain we can map, to a greater degree, the exact locations of the tumors that are the triggers for his seizures.  We have lowered his defenses by taking him off his medications, this is our call to come to fight; we are monitoring this battle ground 24/7 with some of the best equipment in the world.

The doctors need three seizures to collate the data in order to pin point the locations of problem tumors. Today Adam had two large seizures, the second lasted close to three minutes… dangerously long.  Exploring the boundaries allows us to understand the enemy’s territory. As with all wars there are casualties, Adam has suffered much but we hope to win this battle . The seizures have been an answer to prayers, yours and ours.. Thank you.

Adam has volunteered to take part in a study that is being conducted into epilepsy in order to help others who follow him. The team of doctors and engineers have set up additional steps and tests that he will have to go through in order to gain additional data. He is willing to sacrifice a little more discomfort in hopes that others might have comfort.

Today I seek for that which I thought I would never welcome, the Paradox of Seizures