After dutifully reporting the tonic clonic episode to Dr. Sutherling's office and being assured that the first EEG could not take place until August 2nd as planned, the phone call came that they had a cancellation and Chris could come in the next morning for an EEG. Yes! Finally moving forward in the process which I hope will ultimately bring some relief to my son.
So, here we are, about halfway through today's test; I sit in the quiet room watching my son sleep. The images on the computer screen defy the calmness of his body. The 30 or so squiggly lines each are mapping a specific section of my last-born's brain. At times they jump and sway, then return to a relative calm state. About an hour and a half in, Chris had a small seizure. As I got up to alert the technician, Chris opened his eyes and said, "It's okay, it was just a small one, mom," and fell back to sleep. The tracing said otherwise. As the screen filled with mountainous images of the storm going on in his brain, it occurred to me that perhaps there is no such thing as a small seizure. They all are life-altering and ultimately life-threatening.
The technician has had to adjust and reattach the fragile electrodes on Chris's head at least 3 times already, each time carefully unwrapping and rewrapping the gauze bandage that is holding everything in place. Chris gives himself a buzz cut every 3 weeks or so; I wonder how they accomplish this on people with lots of hair. I do so appreciate the careful and caring attention patients receive here. It is evident at every turn: the gentle treatment from the office staff to the smiles and greetings we receive when encountering the doctor in the hallway. The bulletin board with letters and pictures of patients whose lives have been changed by the people in this place give me a sense of resolve, even peace. We are in the right place.
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