Danny's Epilepsy came to an end

On March 9, 1998 (the day after my 32nd Birthday) I was made the happiest person in the world.

I found out I was pregnant and due in November.

On November 18, 1998 I gave birth to a healthy, happy 9 pound 2 ounce baby boy.

Daniel Edward Wader Jr.

On August 30, 1999 Danny and I were at the neighbors(this couple were in their 80's) Danny was 9 months of age and was eating an oreo cookie.

After the cookie I put him in the kitchen sink for a fast bath, as I was taking him out his eyes rolled back and he stiffened. I grabbed the phone and called 911.

So here my little baby nothing on and turning blue. He was rushed to the E.R. and was in respirtory failure. With many nurses and doctors, they saved my baby.

At this time I was told Danny had Epilepsy, he was put in I.C.U for 4 days with having test done.

Danny had idiopathic and irrtractable epilepsy. We tried many differant meds and many tests. Nothing seemed to work.

At the age of 2 he was toxic on Dilantin(due to a doctor)

and was addmitted to the local hospital where he then picked up Roto Viris which of course cause numerous seizures.

After a week in the hospital we were able to bring him home.

On his 2nd Birthday I took him to get his picture taken and right before they called his name he fell to the floor into a grand mal, When I tried to reschedule his appointment I was refused. We also went through this with our family, Danny was the greatest thing as chocolate cake until YES, that day we found out he had epilepsy, then it was Who is Danny? So beleive me I understand all the ignorance some of you are going through first hand.

We tried 6 differant meds plus we had diastat and liquid ativan. no doctor could seem to help our baby.

We were on our 9th doctor in 2 years time. and over 160 grand mals in this same 2 year period.

On December 22, 2001 we decided to let "Santa Claus come that night,(our tree was falling apart because of the heat in the house and I just wanted it gone.)

Danny had the best Christmas ever.

On December 26, 2001 Danny's epilepsy came to an end

along with his life at age 3. He had a grand mal in his sleep which flipped him face down in bed.

On December 31, 2001 we laid Danny to rest. His pallbearers where the medic team that always transported him to the E.R. His last ride from the funeral home to the cemetary was in a white ford 350 douly pick up owned by his cousin.

The first week January I sat down with the local phone book determined to start an organization called Rocking for Epilepsy in Danny's memory. On June 22, 2002 we held our 1st Annual Rocking for Epilepsy walk in Davenport, Iowa and had about 300 people attend raising 10,000 for the epilepsy foundation.We contiued to do awareness in our area by trying to educate local schools and open eyes and erase the ignorance to epilepsy.

On November 18, 2002 which would have been Danny's 4th Birthday and November is National epilepsy month, we set free 300 purple balloons from his grave side in his memory and for all those who suffer with epilepsy today.

In June of 2003 we introduced BoogaBear(which was Danny's nickname) the traveling epilepsy awareness bear that travels the states to visit adults and children with epilepsy. On July 1, 2003 he started his travels BoogaBear arrives at homes with a photo album for photos and his journal for your thoughts. He wear his medic alert epilepsy bracelet and brings his meds along with him.

BoogaBear has made many new friends in just a short years time, he has been to over 22 states and 60 homes.