My daughter, Annabelle, started having seizures when she was 3 years old. We didn't actually witness the first seizure. My husband was inside grabbing juice for a trip to the zoo and was inside for about 45 seconds, leaving Annabelle with her older sister, Hailey, on the front walkway. Hailey ran to get me. I found her seconds later going unconscious. We called 9-1-1 and spent the next 3 days at Children's hospital trying to figure out what was going on. We left with no answers.
Eight months later, Annabelle had a tonic-clonic (formerly called Grand Mal) seizure while I was driving home from the grocery store. That was SCARY!! Another trip to the ER and then to see a Neurologist. The diagnosis was epliepsy. We were *stunned*. There is no family history of epilepsy. Annabelle's birth was completely normal and she was developing normally. The neurologist called her a poster child for epilepsy. great.
She has been taking anti-seizure meds since then. She had a few seizures while on the meds but has not had one in over three years.
Today we had a follow-up EEG and guess what?! It was completely NORMAL!! Woohoo!! She asked if we could celebrate by having dinner at the restaurant at the top of the Space Needle. You betcha!
What terrific news! So so happy for your whole family! Have a great dinner!
Posted by: melissa | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 02:34 PM
your story brought tears to my eyes! My boy is 6. I can't imagine. You never stop worrying do you. Congratulations!!
Posted by: Stephanie Jones | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 02:37 PM
What wonderful news!!!! Enjoy the celebration : )
Posted by: Anita | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 02:47 PM
What great news, Linda! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Posted by: Katie | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Yeah for you! I can totally relate... my 4 year old has heart disease. What a blessing from God when test results come back clear! Have a WONDERFUL celebration!
Posted by: Amanda | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Amazing and blessed news for you and Annabelle. Enjoy your celebration :)
Posted by: Elena | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 03:39 PM
W O W !!!
Congratulations, what a wonderful reason to celebrate!!!
Posted by: Krystie Lee | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 03:44 PM
What is it that Albert Einstein once said? You can view life as if there are no miracles or as if everything is a miracle. It's nice to know that life is still full of them. Great news to warm any heart!
mary rose
Posted by: maryrose | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 04:14 PM
That is FABULOUS news!! Have a wonderful celebration.
Posted by: Michelle | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 04:14 PM
That is SOOOO wonderful Linda. I am jumping for joy for Annabelle. Have a wonderful celebration dinner. {{HUGS}}
Posted by: Tracy | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Wow! That's fabulous news. Praise God for His mercy! I'm so happy for your family; I'm sure you're all excited. Enjoy the fun dinner atop the needle!
Posted by: Melinda | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 04:25 PM
So happy that everything is fine. You should declare the entire week a holiday and celebrate everyday!!!! My husband and I always say that one cannot experience complete happiness and total terror/fear until you have a child.
Posted by: Ericka | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 04:41 PM
what wonderful news!! have a joyous celebration!
Posted by: erika | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Aww Linda that's WONDERFUL news!!! I hope you guys had an awesome dinner!!!
Posted by: AmyR | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 05:20 PM
That is wonderful news!!!! Enjoy your celebration!
Posted by: Jen | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Yay!! This is such fabulous news!
Posted by: Lyndsay Neumann | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Wow, Linda, I had no idea. How scary to have to live with this! What great news you have to celebrate now! I hope you had a fabulous dinner and enjoyed the sunshine that came out today to celebrate with you!!! *hugs*
Posted by: Joyce | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 06:04 PM
What a wonderful blessing! I am SO happy for Annabelle and your whole family! Thanks for sharing this fabulous news with us!
Posted by: Jennie | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 06:44 PM
YEAH!! I am so happy for you, Annabelle and the whole family!! I hope you had a wonderful celebration dinner!!
Posted by: Tisha | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 07:02 PM
That's wonderful news!!!
Posted by: Judi R. | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Wonderful news!
Posted by: jennifer | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Now that's a reason to celebrate above the city! Good choice Annabelle. I love that picture of her on the slopes, her smile reminds me of a close friend. I worry about my kids all the time and lose sleep wondering what their life will be like ..... once their born it never stops. Thanks for sharing your story!
Posted by: Nicole | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Way to go Mom - your bravery is an inspiration. Have a marvelous dinner
Posted by: Jill Grace | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Yay, Annabelle! What a beautiful day to celebrate at the top of the Needle! Couldn't have been a whole lot better ('cept maybe if it was about 30 degrees warmer).
Posted by: Novell | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 09:40 PM
What wonderful news for you and your family! Hope you enjoyed your celebratory dinner! =)
Posted by: Heather | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Scary stuff... I Hope you all had a wonderful dinner, Annabelle really looks happy. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 10:20 PM
That is wonderful news!! I hope you have a beautiful celebration!!
Posted by: Nancy | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 10:21 PM
I am so happy for you and your family!! Fabulous news!! Let's keep that test result NORMAL all the way!! Yippee!! Have a great celebration!! God bless you all!!
Posted by: Armie P Cuaresma | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Congrats Annabelle!!! That is definitely worth a meal on top of the Space Needle!
Posted by: Alana | Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at 10:36 PM
This is awesome news, Linda! Hugs to you and your whole bunch! YIPPEE!
Posted by: CraftyEngineer/TexasLonghorns/Geeta | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 04:30 AM
OH, ANNABELLE!!! I am so happy to hear this news--I hope your mama passes along a big hug from me to you! {{{{{{{{{{{Annabelle}}}}}}}}}}}
Posted by: JulieHRR | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 08:10 AM
Congrats to your family - what fantastic news! I am so happy and relieved for you! I hope your celebration is a joyous and memorable one!
Posted by: Ingrid | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Congrats!!! What great news!! LOVE the picture of her and the glasses are so cute!!
Posted by: Dotty | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 11:38 AM
What a wonderful news for Annabelle and your family. I am really happy for you all!
Posted by: Antonella | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 04:43 PM
YAY ANNABELLE! Great news! HUGS!
Posted by: scoopy (Emily) | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Ahhh, what a wonderful and heart warming news. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: emnkksmommy | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Such wonderful news!!! Tell the girls that we need to celebrate at the "American Girl" tea!!!
Posted by: Michelle M White | Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 10:48 PM
congratulations!!!! my cousin has epilepsy, she also has two beautiful children, a loving husband and a job she loves, just goes to show, life is good!
Posted by: Kristin Edwards | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Oh, Linda -- that is the best news I've read in a long time! I'm so, so happy for you and your family. As the mother of a little one with a nuero condition (my 3 yr. old has CP), I am very aware of that pit of worry and anxiety in the middle of your stomach that never goes away. We don't have the luxury of taking 'normalcy' for granted, KWIM? Anyway, so very glad to see this, and sending you and Annabelle a big cyber hug.
PS -- It was great to meet you at CHA, and I'm so happy to report that Oklahoma now has A Muse stamps and Copics, right here in Claremore, Oklahoma!! : )
Posted by: Carole (TruCarMa) | Saturday, March 08, 2008 at 06:05 AM
So happy for you! My daughter, Shelby, had 3 febrile seizures by the time she was 3, 3 calls to 911 and 3 trips to the emergency room with 2 stays at the children's hospital. Luckily she is now a week away from turning 6 and she hasn't had one since! I remember how terrifying it was and would not wish that on anyone!
Here's wishing for the continued health of your family! Take care! KellyB
Posted by: KellyB | Saturday, March 08, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Linda, what a wonderful news regarding your daughter's EEG!! That really is the *greatest* news!! Good celebrating :) So fun reading about you dinner at the restaurant in the Space Needle—what a perfect place to celebrate!
Posted by: margarete | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 07:48 AM