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Roar for Ryan to Beat Epilepsy

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ROAR FOR RYAN TO BEAT EPILEPSY! **Update 2** Ryan had his surgery on November 23rd and it went really well. There were no complications or issues and he's physically recovering perfectly. Now we are working on helping him adjust to life post surgery. **UPDATE**  The neurologist moved Ryan's surgery up to November 23rd (the day after Thanksgiving). This surgery will remove the portion of Ryan's brain where the seizures are occuring** Our four-year-old son, Ryan, was diagnosed with focal onset complex partial seizures in November 2017.  We held out hope, based on the initial diagnosis, this might be something he would outgrow (because a lot of children do outgrow epilepsy) or that could be treated with medication, so he would lead a relatively unencumbered life.  In May 2018, after two hospital admissions and trying six different medications, we learned Ryan will not outgrow the seizures because of the types of seizures he has.  We also learned he has drug-resistant epilepsy, so medications will not control or stop the seizures.  Now our best hope for Ryan’s seizures to be completely controlled is epilepsy surgery (brain surgery). After numerous tests and one surgery, the doctors found that Ryan has a congenital defect in his left occipital lobe that is causing the seizures.  Because of this, he will not outgrow the seizures and, if left untreated, they will only grow worse and more numerous as well as begin to damage his brain and affect his development.  The most recent test confirmed that the entirety of Ryan's left occipital lobe is abnormal and most likely not functioning properly or at all.  After his neurologist presented all of the test results with a panel of experts in hospital, they determined that surgery is still the best option for Ryan.  He will be undergoing a left occipital lobectomy on November 23rd (the day after Thanksgiving) to remove the entirety of his left occipital lobe.  While doctors are confident that the surgery will end his seizures, it is not without a price.  Removing the left occipital lobe will cause Ryan to permanently lose 50 percent of his vision in both eyes. We know God has given Ryan the strength to go through all he’s been through with a grin and a laugh, and God has given our family the strength to rally around him as his support and to fight for his health.  Because of this fight, our family will have to endure medical expenses, travel costs to and from the hospital, food costs for our family while Ryan is at the hospital, and a lack of income from missed work.  We also hope to provide Ryan with experiences and things that will keep his mischievous grin on his face throughout this entire process. Our family has received tremendous support throughout this entire experience, for which we are forever thankful, and we’ve had many people ask what they can do to help.  If you would like to help, please consider donating to help our family and to help Ryan on his road to becoming seizure-free. Thank you all for your help, and God bless! -Ryan’s parents (Courtney and Brian)

Organizer

Courtney Vincent
Organizer
Mason, MI

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