Jamie's Story

In June 2008, Jamie woke up early one morning and joined me in her office working.  Within five minutes of falling back to sleep on the couch, Jamie started making odd noises.  I looked over and saw what looked like a right side stroke which scared me beyond belief.  She was making such an odd noise, her right eye and right side of her mouth were twitching and she was unresponsive.  I called for her older sister to help me and within minutes, she was up but drooling uncontrollably and incoherent.  This was a day that I would never forget and would begin our journey in understanding all about epilepsy, seizures, treatment and more. 

This picture was taken right before her first seizure and diagnosis of Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE).  BRE is one of the luckier ones to get if anyone has to get it as most outgrow it.  After the first seizure, it took months and months to find the right medication and doses.  It was extremely scary waiting to see if the "big one" would ever hit and thankfully, we have not endured any full clonic seizures.

Due to Jamie's epilepsy, she has suffered some developmental delays whether it was due to the medicine, the condition or other factors, she found herself repeating kindergarten.  This year is her year and with the help of a wonderful teacher, she is reading and writing journal entries among many other things.  Mrs. Huff is golden in pushing for higher standards and has taught Jamie a lot.

This picture is the product of very thoughtful people bringing gifts to children at the Medical College of Georgia's Children's Hospital at the neurology ward.  Jamie had to have another sleep study right before Christmas in 2008 (6 months post diagnosis).  Wonderful volunteers brought in gifts, food cards, snacks and even dogs to allow the children to pet.  One local pastor brought in snacks due to his own plight and understanding how parents don't like to leave their children's bedside.  My other daughter has severe pulmonary/allergy issues and was diagnosed two weeks after Jamie's so I've spent countless days ping ponging between the two with life threatening issues to include times when my husband was deployed to the Middle East.  Having that extra care was what brought tears to my eyes from complete strangers and I want Jamie to experience it by paying it forward.

Thanks for visiting!