A Mother’s Story
A beautiful baby boy was born. His name was Avery. Changing diapers, nighttime feedings,and “ma ma” “da da”. Then come the “terrible twos”. Not the regular “terrible twos”. I would call them the the “blessed twos”.
On January 9, 2005, while at day care. Avery started to having tonic clonic seizures. (http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/tonic-clonic-seizures) He was sent to the Emergency Room. While there he had to be resuscitated. Tonic Clonic seizures were called Grand Mal seizures. Avery would begin having myoclonic seizures. (http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/myoclonic-seizures)
Avery’s mother, Jennifer, could not let her emotions get the best of her. She had to become strong fast. She had a lot of questions she wanted answered. Epilepsy medicine is hard to keep track of when there is more than one. Think about giving medicine to a two year old. Some days were harder than others. Side effects were hair loss and one caused short term memory loss.
Avery’s health started getting worse when he started having seizures during the middle of the night. Jennifer said she was blessed daily when she could spend time with Avery. The doctors said they didn’t know what they could do to help.
Jennifer found out about the Ketogenic Diet. (http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/ketogenic-diet) This diet helps for weight loss and epilepsy. This diet is similar to the Atkins Diet but more strict. They tried it. To make up for the weight loss, Avery had to drink heavy whipping cream, eat one part carbohydrates, and four part fat. Starting at two years old it was had. He had to give up some food that h
e liked.
e liked.
Avery proved that strength was in his genes and that he could conquer anything! Give a ball and he will kick it, bat it, or catch it. Show him a wall and he will climb it.
After starti
ng the Ketogenic diet the seizures during the day stopped. Not long afterwards the nightly seizures stopped. Finally the seizures stopped completely and Avery came off the Ketogenic diet.
ng the Ketogenic diet the seizures during the day stopped. Not long afterwards the nightly seizures stopped. Finally the seizures stopped completely and Avery came off the Ketogenic diet.
The first thing that Avery asked for was a banana!
