At Eastside Catholic School, Sammamish Girl Raises Epilepsy Awareness by Talking About Herself

Sammamish resident Courtney Huston stood before her classmates on Wednesday with a gentle reminder about epilepsy -- and what to do if a person is having a seizure.

With poise and clarity, the 12-year-old offered up one key suggestion: Help and remain calm. "People rarely die when they have a seizure," she said.

Her message was personal because, in a sense, she was asking her classmates to help her should her epilepsy cause her to have a seizure on the Sammamish campus. The seventh grader led the assembly before about 230 students and staff.

Duvall resident Christine Carroll, whose 9-year-old son has the neurological disorder, joined in presenting information. The two gave their talk in association with the Seattle-based Epilepsy Foundation Northwest. They engaged students by asking about their perceptions of epilepsy and used computer visuals, a video and face-to-face conversation as a way to educate and dispel myths.

Carroll explained that a seizure can occur when a person's brain has a "misfire" and too many electrical signals are sent at once. "It's important to know that seizures almost always end on their own," she said.

If there are recurring seizures, a person most likely has epilepsy, she added.

Huston talked about what she's heard some kids say and do when they encounter a child who has epilepsy and is having a seizure. "Oh, seizure kid," she said, with her hand bent, her arm raised near her head and her body jerking back and forth.

"It's pretty obnoxious," she said.

She and Carroll encouraged the students to have compassion and help out, noting that a seizure might cause a person to shake, fall or just stare.

Help can include:

• Staying calm and with the person
• Cushioning the person's head
• Turning the person on one side to prevent choking
• Checking for any medical identification
• Never putting anything in the person's mouth
• Keeping a person unrestrained
• Guiding the person who is having the seizure away from any hazard

They suggested that an ambulance be called if the seizure lasts more than five minutes, if the person is injured or pregnant or if the recovery is taking a long time.

"You have to be understanding," Huston said. 

While epilepsy can be caused by a head injury, brain tumor or infections, Carroll said, for 70 percent of the reported cases in the country, the exact cause remains unknown. Genetics can be a factor.

An estimated 3 million people of all ages in the United States have epilepsy, or about one out of every 100 people, Carroll said, citing national statistics. It affects about 326,000 youths under the age of 15, she added.

Huston has not had a seizure in about 18 months or so, she said, thanks to medicine. Some medicines, though can cause mood swings, the gaining of weight and sleepiness.

Carroll added that her son's special high-fat diet is helping his epilepsy. He once had about 50 seizures in a day, she said. 

Before the assembly ended, Huston reminded her classmates why remaining calm is important. When she has a seizure, she said, she can still hear people.

"Just don't freak out because I freak out," she said.

For Camilla Carpenter, an eighth grade student from Carnation, the assembly served as a good reminder about epilepsy and appropriate steps to take. Her mother, she said, has epilepsy so she has been aware of it since she was a child.

Carpenter also was glad to see her classmate offer ways to help. "It was cool to see Courtney step up," Carpenter, 14, said.