Kelly,
Those are fantastic instructions for your kids!
Have they needed to use them?
Millie
----- Original Message -----
From: Kelly Porter
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 1:33 AM
Subject: Re: [epilepsy] Mother of two
When I first became sick, my son was only 5. My husband had to work,
and though family helped when they could, there were days I was home
alone with him for hours. We gave him very simple instructions of what
to do if I had a seizure. They were/still are:
1. Do not leave the house without permission, if we can't give
permission you don't have it. Only exception-a fire. That rule still
applies today even though he is 10.
2. If I don't "wake up" dial 1 on the phone. This was programed to my
husbands cell phone, and he knew if he got a call from my phone he had
to answer it. He would then ask my son questions, and could determine
if I was ok, plus it gave him someone to talk to while I was post
ictal. If he didn't answer, he called number 2, this was a nearby
family member.
3. We did teach him to call 911 if I was bleeding, though this never
happened.
4. We had emergency numbers posted, and still do, on our refrigerator
at his eye level.
5. Keep 2 cups of water in the refrigerator for the kids. A 5 year old
can be responsible to get these for themselves and a younger sibling if
needed.
6. Have a basket/box of "quiet toys" that they know they can use if you
fall down and don't get up right away. Let them know this will happen,
so they aren't surprised.
7. Be honest with them, what they need most is for you to tell them the
what and why of the rules. 5 year olds can be a lot more responsible
then we think they can.
Ask them about the rules each day until they know them by heart. Put a
little stop sign on the back of the inside of the doors, and tell them
it means "stop-do not go without mom or dad". They will learn what it
means and it will be a reminder. Practice making the phone call to the
designated person. It should be your spouse, or a close family or
friend. Have more then one to call, in case the first doesn't answer.
DO NOT practice dialing 911 for real, just practice what to say. Make
sure your 5 year old knows/can read your address off a card posted by
the phone. 911 dispatch should be able to call it up, but you never
know. Make sure your 5 year old knows only to call it if you are on the
ground and bleeding. If you are not bleeding the phone call to the
designated person will be enough, they can come over if needed.
It is scary for them to see you on the ground shaking. Talk to them
about this, let them know that you will be ok, it will just take time.
For them this is normal, they will get use to it, even if they don't
understand why it happens. Know that there are a lot of us out there
that have raised kids who turn out to be very compassionate individuals
because they have lived with a parent who is ill. Even at 10 I am
amazed how compassionate my son is.
Kelly
On 6/12/2011 7:30 PM, Rebecca wrote:
> The other day I had a grand mal seizure with my 2 boys at the house. I have no idea how much time was lost. My 5 year old says I threw up but I do not remember. I am so worried that my 2yr old and 5 yr old will hurt themselves or walk out the front door and I will never know. Does anyone have advice on being a mother with epilepsy?
>
> Rebecca
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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