2009 Steps for Seizures - Team Emily
**We have received more than $700.00 so far! We'll be accepting donations until the day before the walk. Thank you again to everyone for your kindness and generosity!**
As many of you are aware, Emily began having seizures, known as infantile spasms, when she was just four months old. Her spasms were uncontrolled except for short periods of time with various medications for nearly fifteen months. During that time, Emily made progress, but it was very limited. Emily is now on the ketogenic diet, which is keeping her seizures under the best control they have ever been. She has had long periods of seizure freedom, going for weeks and even months without a spasm. Since starting the diet, she has also been progressing with her physical development, and is now rolling, holding her head up, smiling and laughing, and even eating some by mouth again at 2 years old.
But Emily’s battle with epilepsy is not over. She has had some breakthrough spasms on and off and will most likely suffer from some type of seizure for the rest of her life. After speaking with Clayton’s mother, we were encouraged to learn that the money raised by Clayton’s Hope (a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization) will be used towards funding a study at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as to how the adrenal gland plays a role in seizure management and control and, in turn, what medications will break the brain barrier and work on the adrenal gland's mechanisms.
We believe in the incredible doctors and researchers at Children’s Hospital and look forward to walking with Emily in the 2009 Steps for Seizures Walk on November 7, 2009, at Washington Lake Park.
We are hoping our friends and family both near and far are willing to help us raise money for the walk by donating to this cause. We also would like to invite anyone else who wants to walk with us on the 7th. If you are able, please let us know as soon as possible.
With our sincere thanks,
Geoff and Aimee Gollihur
You can email me for our address to send your donation.
Please make checks payable to: Clayton's Hope
Drew, sporting his Steps 4 Seizures t shirt!
