Sunday, November 21, 2010

Articles

This being the national month of epilepsy, there have been a few articles.

1. The Boston Globe


2. The New York Times

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Epilepsy Awareness month and an interesting point

This is Epilepsy Awareness Month. So I was posting the link to my fb profile while V was reading next to me. As I included the link, I put in a comment saying that I hope that there is a cure sometime. He was reading what I was writing which I didn't realise and he then added after I put in the comment, "Me too". That was so very touching - this is something he thinks about and wants but has never openly expressed it until this time.
Basically, he and I have talked quite a bit about why he needs a restricted diet, the consequences, when he was on medication and why, etc. He once said to me about a month or two ago - I wish I was not this way, I wish I was like the other kids being able to eat anything and it did break my heart but he did it in a very practical way.
His tenth birthday is coming up. He was checking with me what treats he should take to his class. We went through a few options. At one of the options he said that once a girl brought those treats in and everyone except him could eat it (his class has other kids with dietary allergies and restrictions); he said it without remorse, without desire. It was simply remarkable. He hadn't even felt bad about it or I would heard about it that evening at home.
Something similar happened at a birthday party two weeks ago. This friend of mine said to me that he was absolutely amazed at V's ability to refrain from treats and that his maturity on that aspect was impressive. So, even though it might feel like he is being denied and deprived, he really knows the consequences, is able to understand them and knows that we are doing what is best for him. It is something I can really learn from.