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Epilepsy, Partial Cluster Seizures

Keionha Brown has been a Child of Children’s Hospital since she was two months old. Her mother, Candy, will never forget what it felt like that day in the car. Little Keionha began to vomit – not just spit up like babies do – and then her eyes rolled back and her tiny body went limp. Candy was terrified. Candy immediately took her baby to a local hospital, which said it was just acid reflux, but offered to send the family to Children’s for a second opinion “if that would make us feel better.” Something told Candy to say yes. Keionha was transported to Children’s by ambulance. Candy’s first impression was “This is a really big place. I’m going to get lost.” Immediately, they were met by a doctor, who told Candy what tests they would run and what to expect. One thing that impressed Candy is that the doctor did not leave their side until they were admitted and tests were underway. Unfortunately, it took several stays at Children’s Hospital and several rounds of tests before the doctors were able to tell for sure that Keionha had epilepsy. Unlike the full body seizures that are often associated with epilepsy, Keionha has a type called Partial Cluster Seizures, which hit only certain parts of her brain. “It’s a little harder on her body than if she just had regular seizures,” Candy explains. Because she has seen the same doctors and nurses since she was a baby, Keionha has adapted well. She loves Sarah Keel, the nurse practitioner she sees in the Neurology Clinic, who always plays first before “doing anything medical.” Candy agrees, “I just love that hospital. They have great doctors and nurses…even the volunteers are great!” Keionha is now seven years old. Like most little girls, she loves the color pink. However, she doesn’t want to be a ballerina or even a teacher when she grows up. Instead, Keionha Brown wants to become a doctor, just like the ones who help her at Children’s Hospital.