First Aid for seizures typically involves making the person comfortable, keeping them out of harm’s way and timing a seizure to ensure that it doesn’t last more than 5 minutes.  However, when a person has a series of seizures in a row without gaining consciousness or a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, they could be experiencing what is known as status epilepticus.

Any parent who has a child with epilepsy will know the continual worry over when and how they’ll have their next seizure, particularly when they’re in bed asleep.  It’s impossible to monitor your child 24/7 and countless parents report years of sleepless nights, getting out of bed to check on their child after the slightest noise, only to find they’ve just rolled over in their sleep.

One of the first reports has come out about people with seizures and epilepsy risks of drowning. The medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology reported in their August 19, 2008, issue of Neurology reported exactly how much risk people who have seizures actually have of drowning.

Researchers compared the number of people that die each year who suffer from seizures with the general population by examining and compiling information from population registries and 50 case studies of people with who suffer from seizures.

Expressions of Courage, a national contest for people with epilepsy, will be open for entries through Aug. 28. The contest helps showcase the talent and inspiration of people across the country living with epilepsy. A panel of epilepsy advocates, art industry representatives and healthcare experts will serve as contest judges and will announce the winners in November.

Contributed by Shirley Price

Grandparents play a major part in the lives of many children.  There is a wealth of wisdom, and a ton of love that many of these children get in addition to that of their parents. It really is a two way street because as much as the children can benefit from their grandparents, we grandparents gain so much pleasure from our grandkids. Grandchildren also give us a great excuse to do things that we would never otherwise do at this stage of our lives because we think we are too old.

                                            
My parents were both lucky and very blessed.  They had five very healthy children who were easily high achievers in grade school, high school, and college.  It was probably a good thing for them too, because I was raised on a working dairy farm in mid-Michigan and my father worked two farms about 17 miles apart in order to provide for us and his aged parents. He would not have had the time or energy for a special needs child.

A Different Child

If there’s one thing kids can’t wait to do when they reach their teens is pass their driving test and take to the open road.  It gives them a whole new sense of freedom and independence.  The keys to the car become their keys to adulthood... they can drive to work, the mall, their friends’ house or go on a road trip.  It’s only natural that a teen with epilepsy may fear they won’t be able to enjoy that independence and have a driving license.

Anyone with epilepsy or who has epilepsy in the family will often tell you that the greatest support and comfort comes from talking to other people who share their own epilepsy experience.  There is a growing community of people called Epilepsy Advocates who share their own stories, experience with different treatment options and offer invaluable support to other epilepsy sufferers and their families. 

Several educational websites have posted a kind of epilepsy news that isn’t really news at all. Organizations in the US and the UK are combating common myths about epilepsy.

They’re correcting common misperceptions with accurate information about epilepsy, its causes, treatment, and what it’s like to live with this condition.

Some myths are very basic:

Mum, model and actress, Jenny McCarthy has written a new book with autism expert, Dr. Jerry Kartzinel.  This book is an essential read for any parent with a child diagnosed with autism or who suspects that their child could be showing signs of autism.