19/02/2023
Two best mates working out together ❤️💜
~ 🖤𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡.
🖤David died of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) aged 23.
In an excerpt from their story, his parents, Richard and Heather, tell us:
“People with epilepsy want to be treated normally, I think.
However hard, it is important for those around them to understand the condition and to remain calm during a seizure and reassuring as the seizure ends and consciousness returns (that’s the frightening time for the affected person).
To provide a secure, loving environment is crucial;🥰 to try not to be too restrictive over activities that might be incompatible with epilepsy (though I accept that this is tricky and needs delicate judgement).
To be willing to talk about the condition and the problems facing an epileptic; to understand that there are times of great sadness and depression☹️ ☹️which have to be worked through with sensitivity.
I think it’s also important for the carers, be they parents, family members or friends, to have access to someone they can lean on for support when the need arises.”
Richard and Heather have been tireless fundraisers…….believing that research holds the answer to a life free of epilepsy.
✅Fundraising has also provided them with a positive focus........It’s also been a good way of keeping in touch with David’s friends.
🕊️Ben did not die of SUDEP but it is a risk that cannot be ignored for those who live with epilepsy.
People die from epilepsy. Our hope is that a cure will be found soon.🙏🏻
(https://epilepsyresearch.org.uk/your_story/david/)