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Epilepsy Outreach NewsSeriously Funny - Stand Up for EpilepsyApril 14, 2010
Laughter may have been the best medicine at Friday's "Stand Up for Epilepsy" fundraiser featuring WGN radio's Steve Cochran and Patty Vasquez, "It's our way of bringing some awareness and fun to the neighborhood," Erin Leyden said, noting that everyone had been asked to show up wearing something purple because "that's the color for epilepsy awareness." The local couple, along with Ann Marie Clancy, founded the American Epilspsy Outreach Foundation in fall 2007 to raise public awareness of epilepsy after their son, Emmet, then 2 1/2, was diagnosed. The program also included a film featuring four families living in different ways with epilepsy. Not to be confused with the Danny Did Foundation founded earlier this year after Norwood Park 4-year-old Danny Stanton died in his sleep during an epileptic seizure, the AEOF was founded to raise awareness of epilepsy in general, not just "sudden unexplained death from epilepsy." Despite an estimated 50,000 epileptics in the Chicago area the neurological disorder, which during the past 2,000 years has been seen as everything from a mark of the gods' favor to a mental disease and even a sign of demonic posession, remains something of a mystery, Erin Leyden said. Even many doctors don't know much about it, she said. "One asked me to try two medications to let me know which one worked best" for Emmet, who hasn't had a seizure in a few years -- and may never have one again. Ironically, if you have to have epilepsy, the type to have is the "idiopathic" kind, which some patients seem to actually "outgrow," Leyden said. Others are more responsive to the various drugs, as well as the Ketogenic Diet, based on meals high in fats which seem to block seizures, she said, adding that, "Emmet was on that for nine months, but it didn't work as well for him as it has for others." With the help of some 40 volunteers, AEOF not only runs programs like FACES (Friends Accepting Classmates with Epilepsy and Seizures) to help educate children at local schools like Taft and Resurrection high schools, and St. Thecla elementary, but answers e-mails from family members seeking advice on making a house safer for someone prone to seizures. Despite what people may have heard, callers are also cautioned never to put anything in someone's mouth during a seizure. "It's impossible to swallow your tongue. That's just one of the myths that lingers on. I think you just want to lay them on their side and stay with them (until paramedics arrive)," she said. For those who couldn't make the "Stand Up for Epilepsy" event but still want to help with contributions or as volunteers, contact Leyden at erin@epilepsyoutreach.org. To see pictures, visit original article on Pioneer website. |
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3 percent of the population will develop epilepsy by age 75 Dr. Roy Sucholeiki, MD |
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at Park Place, 6733 N. Olmsted, but the reason behind the three-hour event hosted by local comedian Owen Weber was serious business to Erin and Patrick Leyden.