Help Patrick Ayers Through His Brain Surgery

Update as to Patrick's Brain Surgery recovery:

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

Patrick has come through this intensive evasive and painful surgery. Even his social and personal anxieties and social interactions have normalized in addition to him no longer having the grand mal potential sudden death seizures which he was having more and more frequently, and which required 24-hour supervision of him.

When the doctors removed the hippocampus having to cut into the brain and through the jaw muscle they confirmed the left hippocampus was hardened and rubbery when it should’ve been soft and not like that. It had significant scaring from the seizures and his fall. Thus, they confirmed that its removal would stop the deadly seizures.

For us, our next step has been finding Patrick a school that he can attend live without having to carry the burden and discrimination he has faced for his epileptic history. Therefore, our research identified Orlando for him, so we will be moving to Orlando to get Patrick a fresh start with a better public High school and closer to his doctors.

This move will be difficult and costly, but the goal is to get Patrick and Andrew enrolled in public High School by the time school starts August 11.

Patrick pleaded to move and to have the opportunity to attend live high school with new peers for his sophomore year, so he could moved forward with a normal high school experience. He is even hopeful that he can once again return to the High School Cross Country team which he really enjoyed but had been excluded from given he had a seizure at the last meet they allowed him to do in Lee County.

By Patrick overcoming obstacles and taking on this surgery, he has given other epileptic children hope that they too can stop living with the daily threat of death. New technology such as what was used on Patrick is increasing the life span of people with epilepsy and giving them opportunities to drive and engage in normal life activities once again.

Thank you to all who have donated to this difficult process. Engaging in all the studies with Patrick, all the out of town medical appointments and him not being able to attend school ultimately led my law job ending. I believe moving to a larger city like Orlando and him finally being able to be back in school will also help as to this situation too.

Also an update as to my mom who is suffering with Alzheimer's for whom I am also her caretaker. Mom turned 88 years old 7/15. However, she had to go back to the hospital and is still currently hospitalized for pneumonia and other medical complications. She is receiving good care. Hence, we also appreciate your contributions as her care is very difficult financially sadly as a retired teacher. We are also hoping we can find more economical options for her increased care needs in Orlando given it has greater offerings including surrounding areas such as Lakeland. which we will be investigating for her treatment.

As I balance all these caretaker demands between Patrick, my mom, plus transitioning Andrew into his senior year, I am truly grateful for the community support and kindness of others. We will get through this struggle and come out on the other side in a better place with more opportunities for all of us: Patrick, my mom, Andrew and myself, so thank you once again for taking the time thinking about our situation and your thoughtfulness in helping us through it.

And although it is difficult to ask for help, we have not done so before including when Patrick originally fell out of the window. Unfortunately, given the many factors weighing in currently necessitated reach out like this and we truly and thankfully from the bottom of our hearts THANK those who have not judged us for this and have contributed to helping us with these medical needs and this transition.

Even a $1 helps with gas for the trips back and forth to doctors, co-pays, which for my mother in particular have been excessively high as a retired teacher , but whose care we had to balance with Patrick's. Any monies also truly help in also getting Patrick real hope from all the bullying he has endured from his seizures, side effects of the medication, by helping us move from Lee County so he can once again attend live school.

If you can’t donate, we completely understand, but also sharing this page and keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers also means the world to us, too.

With endless gratitude,

Susan