Support Ian's Journey to Seizure Relief

Ellen Grimm is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Jennifer Grimm.

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Hello Friends and Family!

This fundraiser is to help my sister Jen and my nephew Ian (and also Ian's dad Joe!). They're facing a lot of added expenses related to Ian's medical care right now, and could use a helping hand.

Ian is 7 years old now, and he has been diagnosed with a severe type of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). LGS is particularly hard to treat because it causes different types of seizures and affects different parts of the brain. It is often considered medication-resistant. This happens to be the case for Ian - he still has seizures despite medication, a carefully regulated ketogenic diet, and everything else Jen and Joe have tried.

This brings us to a new intervention that they are attempting. Ian and family have been seeing a team of specialists at Seattle Children's Hospital and they've decided to pursue a VNS device (Vagus Nerve Stimulator). The VNS sends electrical pulses to the brain via the vagus nerve, and can help prevent or lessen seizures. Long term, the hope is that this device will help lessen the frequency and severity of Ian's seizures. It's not considered a cure, but rather a treatment that will hopefully allow for a fewer seizures with reduced medication, which will also give him better quality of life. Ian is a sweet, happy kid and the possibility of reducing his medication will really help his overall well-being.

Luckily, Ian has great medical insurance through Jen's job. However, travel to and from the hospital is quite expensive, and things like hotel stays before and after hospital appointments really adds up. Coming up, they will have to travel from Spokane to Seattle and back multiple times - pre-op appointments, the surgery itself, and then a few follow ups.

I'm hoping to help raise some funds to make their travel a little easier, and to allow Jen and Joe to just focus on Ian through his surgery and recovery. Funds will help cover gas and travel expenses, as well as hotel stays in Seattle during their visits. It's a 4-5 hour drive each way, a trip they've made several times over the last few months. Let's help make their travel and stay around these medical appointments as easy as possible. Thanks in advance!

Also - if we raise more than what they need for travel, I'm really hoping to help get them into a newer car. Something that will be reliable and capable in all types of weather, as they'll have a fair amount of winter travel coming up.