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Name: Nathan (he'll tell you, I'm sure, that he has dubbed himself "Bob" this last year and insists that people call him Bob, now. Except me, his mom. Special dispensation, don't you know . . . )

Age: 12 1/2

Seizure Type: multi-focal; status epilepticus (life threatening); seizures occur during sleep.

Interests: climbing, biking, baseball, skateboarding, skipping rocks, Pokeman and baseball card trading. He swims, hikes frequently with family, helps usher at church, and takes piano lessons. Recently, he was given an electric train set that was destined for the junk yard. It is now set-up and he has the engines working. He argues about taking baths, avoids emptying the garbage until the last possible minute, and thinks folded clean clothes store much better under the bed than in the dresser drawers. *grin* And he reads -- just about everything.

In the last week, Nathan has plowed through several Archie/Jughead comics, Scooby-Doo comics, Hardy Boy mysteries, and the Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times. Nathan enjoys history and learning about different cultures. We spent the better part of a day this past week at the Makah Nation's museum. His favorite place in the museum was the longhouse -- how quiet it was. When I asked Nathan what about the longhouse made it special, he said he liked the dimness, the quietness -- it gave him time to collect his thoughts.

He's an active boy that thinks quite a lot. About many things. He's a gentle boy, with a great deal of empathy for other people. He is patient with others, particularly with younger children as he helps them grasp the rudiments of how to throw a baseball, grip a bat, balance on a skateboard. The swim program director at his local YMCA looks forward to Nathan being old enough to help teach swimming, and eventually lifeguard.

What about the seizures have made it difficult for Nathan? Sometimes, he gets very tired of answering questions about his medic alert bracelet. Or answering questions about what seizures are, and what they are not. In doing research for a class project last year, he and some classmates came across a website that made statements linking insanity and epilepsy. Dealing as a young, active, normal boy with some people's misconceptions and ignorance is a tough thing to ask of a young boy.

The medication he takes -- which does control the seizures -- also has some side effects that must be carefuly guarded against. For an active boy, these side effects are not fun. Having a body that overheats easily, and whose cooling mechanisms don't function well, means stopping to rest and sip water when he'd really rather be going. It means parents, teachers, and coaches having to closely monitor and insist on the resting and water, which at 12 can feel pretty intrusive. The alternative is not good -- this medication can cause young bodies to overheat and experience heat exhaustion and heat stroke -- when other bodies can keep going. For a child who prides himself on being strong, and fast, and sturdy -- this can be a bitter pill to swallow. He is tired of blood tests and diagnostics -- of the pricking and poking. And who wouldn't be? He's old enough to remember the last time, and the time before, and the one before that . . . and the memory of the hurt and trepidation stay with him now. And aren't easily coddled away anymore.

Yes -- he's a normal boy. With a couple of extra things to be aware of and care for in his life. Do we wish the seizures would stop, go away, never come back? Absolutely. Do we do our best as a family to find the positive in this experience? As much as we can. And when we need to, we simply acknowledge that it doesn't feel fair at all -- in fact it can be downright frightening and discouraging from time to time. And then, we get on with life and what's ahead for Nathan. And know that all life is a blessing.

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