Archive for seizures
A promising new antiseizure drug tailored to newborns
Neonatal seizures can lead to serious consequences, including significant cognitive and motor disabilities, lifelong epilepsy, and death. They are often highly resistant to treatment, in part because seizures in newborns are fundamentally different from seizures in older children and adults. Yet they are treated in much the same way as older patients, with little change over the decades. Better treatment is ... Read More
I had a seizure. Here’s what I learned.
I was 11 when I had my seizure. I’m 15 now. I’ve learned a lot since that night, and I owe a lot of what I know to Dr. Alex Rotenberg and the team at Boston Children’s Hospital. They helped me understand what caused my seizure and how to prevent another one. But I’ve also ... Read More
Pinpointing Karlijn’s seizures: Neurosurgery helps teen get back to her life
Karlijn Kuiper was visiting her home country of the Netherlands a few years ago when the trouble began. At first, her family noticed she would zone out. “She had these strange spells where she would just stare,” remembers her mother, Marieke. At first, it didn’t occur to Karlijn’s family that they could be seizures. Like ... Read More
Predicting pediatric seizures with a wristband: Study shows what’s possible
The ability to track seizures has a number of potential benefits: It could allow physicians to better determine optimal dosing and timing of medication, as well as enable timely interventions to help prevent impending seizures. Traditionally, electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocorticography have been used to evaluate and forecast seizures. However, more compact, portable approaches — such ... Read More
Fighting for answers: Innovative approach to epilepsy helps Emma thrive
As a nurse, Lynda Coto was used to solving problems — until she was faced with her own daughter’s seemingly inexplicable illness. “I always have answers, and if I don’t, I find them,” she says. “But this time, I just didn’t know.” The questions surrounding Emma’s health began almost as soon as she was born. At ... Read More
Jason: My remarkable journey
Most people associate the city of Boston with the Red Sox or the Patriots. I, however, cannot help but associate it with brain surgery. I had my first seizure in the summer of 2006, when I was 14 years old and at camp in Connecticut. Gradually, the seizures increased in intensity and frequency. My parents took me ... Read More
My journey from patient to employee
When I was 13 years old, I remember eating my breakfast and next thing I knew, my mom was repeatedly asking me why I wasn’t responding to her. I was having my first seizure. The start of my journey This was the beginning of my journey with epilepsy. For two and a half years, I ... Read More
Mary’s journey with genetic epilepsy
Lots of people don’t like the heat. It makes them feel uncomfortable and sluggish. But for Mary, being outside on a hot day means risking a seizure. So can running in gym class or having a fever. That’s because Mary has genetic epilepsy, a form of Dravet syndrome — a rare epilepsy syndrome caused by ... Read More
Staff spotlight: Meet genetic counselor Beth Rosen Sheidley
In honor of Genetic Counselor Awareness Day, we sat down with Beth Rosen Sheidley, MS, CGC, co-director of the Epilepsy Genetics Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, to learn about the field and practice of genetic counseling. What is the role of a genetic counselor? There are about 30 genetic counselors at Boston Children’s across many different departments and ... Read More
Enjoying life, finally free of seizures
Kristen Grip stood in the middle of the basketball court, motionless. Around her, the action continued as usual — the smack of the ball on the polished wood floor, the rush of her teammates as they darted back and forth, the satisfying swish and shout of victory as someone made a basket. Yet the high ... Read More