Family’s hope

By Lia Bichel
THE parents of an epileptic child hope to raise awareness and funds about the condition at a special event this weekend.
Lyn and Daryl Ackers, of Berwick, are holding a family fun event on Sunday to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation and hope to eventually start a support group in Casey.
Mrs Ackers said it was difficult to watch their son Brayden, 12, suffer numerous seizures every week and said it would be helpful to talk to parents in similar situations.
Brayden was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was three and a half. Since then, he has seizures frequently, sometimes up to eight times a day. The longest he has gone without having a seizure is a month.
He has tried many medications, had brain surgery where part of his left temple lobe was removed twice, without success, and he recently had vagul nerve stimulator implanted in his chest to try to regulate his brain activity.
“When Brayden had his first seizure I went into panic mode. I was scared to death. I had no idea what was going on,” Mrs Ackers said.
“After he was diagnosed I tried to learn everything I could about epilepsy. As a family, we went through a huge roller-coaster ride. We learned Brayden had a microscopic abnormality in the brain. There was no reason for it- it’s not genetic, there was no car accident to cause it. We constantly asked why? It’s very unpredictable, very frequent, and very hard to live with- for Brayden and for us.”
Ms Ackers said the family had to change their lifestyle to cope with Brayden’s condition. She said she never relaxed and constantly had an eye on him to ensure his safety.
Brayden can not participate in any sports, he sometimes has to get around in a wheelchair, and it often takes hours, if not days, to recover from each seizure.
She said while the students and teachers at his school, Berwick Fields Primary School, have been very supportive, others are not so kind.
“I find there is still a stigma attached to epilepsy. Some people don’t understand that disorder and think there is something wrong with Brayden.
“Many kids are cruel, and he gets taunted sometimes,” she said.
“But Brayden is very courageous. He always has a smile on face, he’s such a loving boy and he is always happy.”
The Ackers family is holding Epic Fundraiser for Epilepsy Family Fun Day on 27 March, from 11am until 3pm, at the Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick. It is a voluntary gold coin donation to attend and will feature a number of activities including a handball competition, stalls, mini manicures, Hot Rod display, tarot readings, raffles and a sausage sizzle.
Funds raised will go to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Mrs Ackers will also be speaking at a workshop hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation at the Casey Council Chambers, between 10am and 12pm on 29 March.