All the Things

A blog by Holly Papa.

On Ambulance Rides and Gratitude

by | Oct 31, 2009 | Blog | 17 comments

I know Thanksgiving is just around the corner and people start thinking about gratitude, but I wanted to give people an update on what has been happening in my life. Last week my 5 year old daughter had a tonic clonic seizure or grand mal seizure in the parking lot of the school. Gratefully I was with her for the whole time and was able to call an ambulance. She went to the local children’s hospital and we were able to get into a specialist within a week, which if you know about getting into specialists it takes a while. We feel extremely grateful. Officially the diagnosis is Generalized Seizure Disorder, which means she has seizures, but the type that she has she will most like outgrow them. It can be managed by medication and will not damage her brain. She will be able to do whatever other children do swimming, biking, going to school and of course reading.

We are grateful for the wonderful docters and paramedics who helped us and for the our faith in God who helped us through this difficult time. I also wanted to raise awareness about epilepsy, which to get diagnosed with epilepsy you need to have 2 documented seizures, which she has. This last Sunday 60 minutes did a special on Epilepsy please take the time to watch the episode. From their website, “More Americans suffer from epilepsy than Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis combined.” My daughter’s situation is not in the same category as many of the people featured in the special, but this experience has certainly raised my awareness and made me want to tell people more about this disease that affects so many people.

Needless to say, with this adventure and my sister’s lack of internet (she just moved into a new home), we are behind on our Double Scoop for October. Hopefully, I will have it ready by the end of today.

Websites on epilepsy – Epilepsy.com, and The Epilepsy Foundation.

I am on the look out for children’s book about epilepsy and about going to the hospital, if you know of any please leave the titles in the comments.

Thanks!

17 Comments

  1. jama

    So glad your daughter will be okay, and that you were there at the time of the seizure. What a frightening experience it must have been! Sending healing thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  2. MotherReader

    So sorry to hear that. My daughter had a febrile seizure when she was 18 months, we had no idea what was going on, and it was terrifying. I know it had to be scary for you, but I’m glad she’s getting treated and that you are educating yourself and others.

    Reply
  3. Britt, Book Habitue

    So glad you got into the specialist this week!

    And that she should hopefully grow out of it!

    Have a good Halloween!

    Reply
  4. Lynn

    Oh no! I’m so glad she’s OK. You are the third blogger this month that I follow that is dealing with seizures with their children (one other is a friend, who is local, but her son’s situation is a bit more complicated). What a scary, scary thing. I hope life is a lot less exciting for you for the next few months.

    Reply
  5. Natasha @ Maw Books

    It was great to see her today in costume. So cute! And I’m thrilled that she’s all right, although I can’t imagine what it was like as a parent to watch that.

    You asked about titles about going to the hospital. I blogged a list a while back when my own little guy landed himself in the hospital after drinking paint cleaner although it’s probably for the younger set. http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/06/20/our-trip-to-the-hospital-book-recommendations-for-kids-headed-there/

    Reply
  6. Lynn

    I guess I should read all the comments before I add mine! LOL.

    Reply
  7. Sherpa

    Glad to hear she’s okay. you’ve got such a great attitude about it.

    Reply
  8. Sherpa

    Glad to hear she’s okay. you’ve got such a great attitude about it.

    Reply
  9. caribookscoops

    Jama – Thanks for your thoughts and prayers – definitely grateful I was there for her.

    Mother Reader – Watching my daughter have a seizure is probably the scariest moment of my life. Glad to know that your daughter is okay now, I can really relate to those moments of terror. I hope to get find some good books on epilepsy to review for our blog.

    Britt – Thanks, we feel very blessed to get in so quickly.

    Lynn – Three bloggers, wow! Since this has happened I have been surprised at the number of people who either have epilepsy or have family members who have seizures. It’s a lot more common then I realized. I hope your friend’s son is doing okay.

    Natasha – Thanks for having us over, it was fun to see your family and Taylor as Michael Jackson. Thanks for the link, I will have to check it out. Glad to know your little guy survived the paint thinner ordeal.

    Lynn – No worries

    Sherpa – Thanks! Maybe the next time you’re in the area we should try and do lunch or something. It’s been too long.

    Reply
  10. caribookscoops

    Jama – Thanks for your thoughts and prayers – definitely grateful I was there for her.

    Mother Reader – Watching my daughter have a seizure is probably the scariest moment of my life. Glad to know that your daughter is okay now, I can really relate to those moments of terror. I hope to get find some good books on epilepsy to review for our blog.

    Britt – Thanks, we feel very blessed to get in so quickly.

    Lynn – Three bloggers, wow! Since this has happened I have been surprised at the number of people who either have epilepsy or have family members who have seizures. It’s a lot more common then I realized. I hope your friend’s son is doing okay.

    Natasha – Thanks for having us over, it was fun to see your family and Taylor as Michael Jackson. Thanks for the link, I will have to check it out. Glad to know your little guy survived the paint thinner ordeal.

    Lynn – No worries

    Sherpa – Thanks! Maybe the next time you’re in the area we should try and do lunch or something. It’s been too long.

    Reply
  11. Sharon

    I’m so glad that your daughter is okay now. I hope your daughter does grow out of it. My husband hasn’t had a seizure for years now – YAY!

    Reply
  12. AZ

    Thanking God with you!

    Reply
  13. AZ

    Thanking God with you!

    Reply
  14. caribookscoops

    Sharon – Thanks, glad to know your husband is seizure free.

    AZ – Thanks!

    Reply
  15. caribookscoops

    Sharon – Thanks, glad to know your husband is seizure free.

    AZ – Thanks!

    Reply

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