-from the Purple Day website, click here to go check out the site!
This is also a "get informed" post and a Featured Rainbowkid post!
Get informed is a series on my blog.
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Today's post is about the Epilepsy.
I did a little post before, My Shot At Epilepsy. It's a couple months old, but read it if you feel so inclined.
Today I'm going to be answering FAQ about Epilepsy. I'm no expert but I read up on the Purple Day FAQ page and the Rainbowkids Epilepsy page. You can read those two, they're probably better sources than this post. Also on the Purple Day site, there are some additional resources for epilepsy.
That said, here's three frequently asked questions about Epilepsy.
1. What's epilepsy?
To state it simply, epilepsy is a brain condition that causes seizures. But it's not a psychological disorder and it isn't contagious or a disease. About 50 million people, one in about ten people, have epilepsy. The type of seizure is different from person to person, and seizures can be controlled with medication.
2. What causes epilepsy?
According to the Purple Day site, "The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells or neurons that communicate through electrical and chemical signals. When there is a sudden excessive electrical discharge that disrupts the normal activity of the nerve cells, a seizure may result."
People of all ages can get it. Sometimes children or adults outgrow the seizures and don't need medication anymore.
3. How is epilepsy treated?
As stated above, many people with epilepsy find decrease in seizures or even cease to have seizures with prescribed medication. According to Rainbowkids, "More than half the children with medication-controlled epilepsy eventually stop medications and live a seizure-free life. Many adults also can discontinue medication after two or more years without seizures." But people who don't have success with medication can have epileptic surgery, where the area of the brain that causes seizures is removed while avoiding an affect on the important parts of the brain.
Again, this is based off the Purple Day site and the Rainbowkids site.
Speaking of Rainbowkids, here's the final part of today's post...
*For a link to the Rainbowkids site click here*
It is important to understand that the privacy of these children should be protected. Rainbowkids does post bits of the profiles of their waiting children on social media, and that's all I am trying to do here. To view the profiles of the children I post on my blog you will have to create an account and do email verification.
The reason I have chosen to feature children who have profiles on Rainbowkids is not only because I want people to consider adoption/international adoption, but also, maybe even more so, because I want people to consider the adoption of a child who has a special need. These children are overlooked so much, and need families. These children may not have the medical care they need in their current living situation. Many of these children need advocating, and if I can spread the word by posting about these kids on my insignificant little website, then at least I'm doing something! This cause is just so close to my heart knowing that other kids/teens don't have what I have.
Today's featured Rainbowkid is Daniel. Link to full profile here.
Daniel is eight years old and waits in Eastern Europe. He is diagnosed with epilepsy and Speech Delays . The following is from his profile:
This is Daniel! He is 7 years old and will be turning 8 in April. He has a diagnosis of moderate developmental delays and epilepsy, which is well controlled with medication. He is physically well developed, with normal height and weight for his age.
Daniel prefers to play outside, and loves to play soccer and ride his bike. If he plays inside, he likes games that imitate housework – cooking, cleaning, laundry – he loves to pretend he is a cook! He gets along with other kids, but there are days he wishes to play by himself. He talks constantly, but is behind in language skills. Since going into 1st grade he is starting to catch up in some of these skills! Even though his language skills are delayed, he understands what is said to him and will do what is asked of him.
Imagine what Daniel could acoomplish with a loving, supportive family cheering him on and helping him grow! Could you be his forever family?
And that wraps up today's post! Happy Purple Day!
Thanks for reading if you did!
-M