Giuseppe (Italy)

Carer of a child with epilepsy

Epilepsy Advocate

In 2004, at age four, Giuseppe’s son Raffaele was diagnosed with epilepsy. While at work, Giuseppe received several missed calls from his wife and sister. When he finally reached his wife, she burst into tears as she told him Raffaele had been taken to the hospital by ambulance. Giuseppe raced to be by his son’s side. After two days in the hospital, Giuseppe learned his son had had a seizure and that he and his wife would need to carry emergency medications with them wherever they went.

After a visit to a pediatrician, Raffaele was diagnosed with “Atypical Infantile Epilepsy,” and his seizures continued to occur about every 30 days. As the seizures continued, Raffaele began to have difficulties with his speech, comprehension, and writing. Worried, Giuseppe sought the advice of his brother-in-law who suggested the family visit a polyclinic in Naples to meet with a Professor of Epileptology.

While at the clinic, just before Christmas 2006, Raffaele continued to have seizures during which he lost consciousness. Several tests were run, and it was determined that Raffaele’s was having focal seizures. The epileptologist decided to begin treatment right away and gave the family directions to decrease their son’s activity. Shortly thereafter, Raffaele’s seizures tapered off and Giuseppe was happy to see his son return to his happy-go-lucky self again.

Giuseppe encourages other parents who have a child with epilepsy to never give up searching for the right doctor and the right treatment.