This is about a little boy in Toronto and his name is Jack.
Keep that in mind, we’ll come back to Jack in just a moment.
As many know, I have epilepsy and I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2012. I raised funds to help others with epilepsy, to help with awareness programs, outreach programs, and research. I ran for them because I wanted to help.
I ran because there are others with epilepsy that have it far worse than I ever did.
To put that in perspective, my seizures occur about 8 years apart. When my attacks happen, I have grand mal seizures. A seizure occurs when a burst of electrical impulses in the brain escape their normal limits. They spread to neighboring areas and create an uncontrolled storm of electrical activity. The electrical impulses can be transmitted to the muscles, causing twitches or convulsions.
A grand mal seizure — also known as a tonic-clonic seizure — features a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It’s the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures in general. Grand mal seizures are not fun, after each attack I felt as if I’d run a marathon as hard as I could. I hurt all over.
Thankfully, my epilepsy is now controlled by medication.
You remember Jack? He’s 4 years old and not so lucky.
I met Jack’s dad, Jamie, on a recent business trip to Toronto. The group and I were talking; I mentioned running with epilepsy. Jamie looked at me with a surprised look. During a break, he approached me and asked a couple of questions about being epileptic. That week we had coffee a number of times, we chatted, and I learned about his son.
Jack will go on streaks of seven to ten days of one to three grand mals per day. He’ll then go five or so days where the seizures stop and Jack slowly starts coming back to being a normal 4 year old boy.
On Jack’s bad days he is completely out of it; he’ll drool, can barely talk, and can barely walk as his balance goes to Hell. He also has atonic, or drop, seizures, and myoclonic jerks through the day, these also go through cycles where he has good and bad days. Jamie told me, “This disease is ravaging his mind, but when the seizures stop for a few days he starts to come back to us, which brings us hope, and then we relive the agony and disappointment all over again. It’s often an unbearable emotional roller coaster.”
There are around 180,000 new cases of epilepsy each year. About 30% occur in children.
Here’s the really scary part. In approximately 70% of all cases, the cause is unknown.
That’s the case with my seizures and with Jack’s. No one knows how or why these happen.
Help me help increase awareness about epilepsy. Help me help Jack and other kids like him.
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Now the added incentive: “Shave it or Save it 2: The Return”
For every dollar donated, you get a vote to determine the fate of my best friend: my moustache.
Do I shave it or do I save it?
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Donate to David! Not only is he a great guy and the funniest person we all know, but he’s running for a great cause!
Runnin' Down a Dream 