I can’t get up.
ONE FAMILY’S EXPERIENCE OF THE CONDITION FACTS
recently had to tell him he couldn’t go to a Scout camp because he has just come off his medication after more than two years seizure-free. He was upset and disappointed but he accepted it and quickly bounced back.
He’s a happy soul, who loves to play football or knock about with his pals. To have coped so well with so much at such a young age is remarkable.
I’m proud, too, of his big sister Grace, who is now 14. She was the first to witness a seizure and alerted us to it.
It was traumatic for her, as was the realisation we must all face at some time – that our parents don’t have all the answers and sometimes are just as scared as you are. We are grateful to all the medical staff we have encountered – particularly the ambulance crews, who were so calm and professional. Whatever they get paid, it’s not enough.
There is no single test for epilepsy so, for now, we can only wait and see if Matthew remains well.
However, he is one of the lucky ones. His epilepsy was controlled by medication and almost certainly will be again if necessary – and he is very likely to grow out of it.
But for many, that is not the case. Epilepsy can be a lifelong condition and in three out of 10 cases can’t be controlled by drugs. I found it difficult to write about this but if it helps raise awareness, it will have been worth it. ■ There are around 600,000 people in the UK with epilepsy ■ In more than half of all cases, doctors don’t know the cause ■ There are many types of seizure and not all result in a loss of consciousness ■ Only around three per cent of sufferers have photosensitive epilepsy – where flashing lights can trigger seizures.