Epilepsy awareness month 

To the editor, 

Who is your 1 in 26? One out of 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime, including more than 400,000 children in the US. Our 1-in-26 is our four-year-old son, Teddy, the happiest, strongest and most loving kid in the world. 

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and I am sharing our family’s journey with this condition to break down the stigma faced by those living with it. 

Teddy was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 15 months. Since then, we have been very busy with EEGs, MRI’s, visits and overnights at Boston Children’s Hospital. After trying four different medications, he now takes six capsules and two liquid syringes a day. 

My wife and I did not anticipate the sense of confusion and fear, especially when it came to choosing a pre-school. One school told us they thought Teddy wasn’t ready to start school there, because they had concerns about his epilepsy and were unsure that they could provide adequate support. 

No family should be told that their child isn’t ready for school simply because that school isn’t ready for their child. This November, it’s crucial that Massachusetts better understands epilepsy to create a more inclusive environment for those living with it. 

Despite everything that he goes through on a daily basis, Teddy has the biggest heart and the most amazing spirit. You would never know what he goes through everyday just trying to be a normal child. He is our 1 in 26 and our hero. 

– Benjamin Herman

Featured in the Milton Times as an Op-Ed on 11-7-24