November - Epilepsy Awareness Month

Epilepsy Awareness Month

What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.

A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. One in 10 adults will have a seizure sometime during their life.

Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They can have many symptoms, from convulsions and loss of consciousness to some that are not always recognized as seizures by the person experiencing them or by health care professionals: blank staring, lip smacking, or jerking movements of arms and legs.

Types of Seizures
There are many different types of seizures. The kind of seizure a person has depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance that produces seizures.

This November, for National Epilepsy Awareness Month, the Epilepsy Foundation is asking everyone to Get Seizure Smart about seizure first aid, recognition and types. Epilepsy affects people of all ages and races, and represents one percent of the population in this country—nearly 3 million people.

About the Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation, a national nonprofit with affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against epilepsy since 1968. The Epilepsy Foundation will ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences and will prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research. For additional information, please call 1-800-332-1000 or visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org .  

Featured in this post is James.  James suffered from a stroke in utero and as a result of the braindamage  from the stroke, he developed a form of Epilepsy called Infantile Spasms.  James is a sweet, gentle baby and absolutely loves monkeys!  James' parents are advocates for Epilepsy awareness, especially Infantile Spasms.  James is so lucky to have the love and support of his parents, family and therapists.

Infantile Spasms is a catastrophic form of Epilepsy with poor prognosis.  It is characterized as jackknife/headdrop seizures with a constant chaotic background brainwave activity & developmental delays.  It's one of the Severe Childhood Epilepsy Syndrome.  Parents of children with this condition often wish it was called a more hard hitting name.

Deedles Photography is available for portraiture sessions for your special needs child!  Whether you are looking to capture your child's birthday memories or looking to celebrate their life - contact Deedles Photography today! Rates can be found under the Portraiture post or by contacting deedlesphotography@gmail.com.