Epilepsy Resources

Welcome to my epilepsy resources page.  Just like every parent of a child with epilepsy, Jade’s initial diagnosis spurred us to do lots of research into the causes, treatments, and prognosis.  Friends and family were also interested in learning more, though not to the same level of detail!  Below are some of the best links I found that deal with the facts and myths, as well as links to families living with epilepsy.

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at my gmail dot com address.  Use “fawnahareo” for the first part of the address.

First, here are some good links to basic information about epilepsy.

• Anti-Seizure Drug Overview
• EEG Photobook for kids
• Epilepsy fact sheet
• Epilepsy in a Nutshell
• How Epilepsy Impacts Families (Video)
• Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy

Videos from epilepsy.com:

• Video #1: Understanding Epilepsy
• Video #2: Types of Seizures
• Video #3: Partial Seizures
• Video#4: Generalized Seizures
• Other epilepsy videos

Links to information on the ketogenic diet:

• Wikipedia
• Brain Blogger
  

These are some blogs from families who have children with epilepsy.  Some of these kids also have other health issues, as well.

• All 4 Jake
• Ava Simone Labonte
• Lauren’s Update
• Looky, Daddy!
• My Life with the Sullivan Boys
• Scattered Moments in Time
• Sim Family
• The Far Side of Complexity

Blogs from families on the keto diet:

• Abigail’s Ketogenic Diet
• Favorite Keto Meals
• God is Alive!
• Keto Kid
• Larkin’s Place
• Living with the Ketogenic Diet
• our family’s journey through childhood epilepsy
• Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy: Random Thoughts
• Samantha’s Mom
• The Mustard Seed
• The Simpler Life

One of my favourite blogs, Adventures in Babywearing, doesn’t fit either of the last two categories, but the author, Stephanie Precourt, has a son who has been seizure-free for years now.  He had a very severe seizure disorder and became seizure-free on the fourth day after starting the ketogenic diet.  I believe she was the person who started the Yahoo group for families with children on the diet, which has been a fabulous source of information for us.  Check out these links for Stephanie and Noah’s story:

• Noah’s Story
• The Time

Here are some links to various scientific articles and research about epilepsy:

• Study Yields Clues About the Evolution of Epilepsy — BrightSurf.com (January 07, 2009) This page includes links to other articles
  
• Scientists shed light on causes of epilepsy — MSNBC (November 24, 2008)

In 1997, a made-for-TV movie called “First Do No Harm“, starring Meryl Streep, illustrated what life can be like when living with a child with epilepsy, and how the ketogenic diet can work.  My husband Michael found the movie (in parts) on YouTube, which he compiled on his blog.  Click here to watch the movie from his blog.

Finally, some other links that you might find useful:

• BC Epilepsy Society: Our Society Blog
• Epilepsy Moms
• The American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation
• Medical Edge report (YouTube video)
• The Charlie Foundation
• Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy

Epilepsy in the news:

• High-fat diet ends epileptic seizures for boy