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Home alone?

Wed, 03/29/2017 - 15:42
Hello, I'm a parent of a child diagnosed with benign roulandic epilepsy. He has had 2 grand mal seizures in his whole life. After the second one, he started on Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) and hasn't had one since June of 2016. He's about to turn 12 and his summer camp director said she assumed we'd be letting him stay home alone this summer. We've been told by his neurologist that ultimately, the decision is ours, but they can't advise us to leave him home alone. Does anyone else out there have teens or pre-teens with this condition who stay home alone for any amount of time? Thank you!

Comments

So he has gone almost 9

Submitted by just_joe on Wed, 2017-03-29 - 18:17
So he has gone almost 9 months and you are the ones that are to let him go or not let him go. Well I was in boy scouts. I went out on weekend camp outs. I also went longer then that. I didn't have a seizure while at camp. Oh and your child went longer then I did without a seizure. He is just like the kid next door. As for home alone... That too is your decision. I was left home with my baby brother when I was 16. Hey step father was in the hospital and Mom had to work and brother worked. I also worked but took care of Tim. I didn't have any seizures then either. But then it was a different time when there were no computers or even 911.In other words yes it is your decision. But he is a boy and has gone almost 9 months without a seizure. Oh and today If you have a drivers license and have a seizure your license is revoked. It takes 6 months without a seizure to get your license back. Those are state laws.

our child with epilepsy is

Submitted by Amy Jo on Wed, 2017-03-29 - 18:18
our child with epilepsy is ten but is the youngest at home, next older one will be 13 in weeks. we value independence but it is something we gradually increase over time. since our youngest doesn't have tonic clonics, partials have become rare, and the generalized seizures are controlled with meds we treat the 10yo just like all the previous kids. BRE does not usually have a lot of seizures and your child is taking meds so I would not let that get in the way of whatever plan you would want to do if there was no epilepsy. Not really sure what the camp director conversation means, were you thinking of having him at camp? was the implication that the camp didn't want him because of epilepsy or that he's kind of aged out of that camp? my own parent goal is that kids should not play video games all day during breaks so I sign up for some additional activities just to keep kids moving whenever possible. if hanging out with friends means more biking together than gaming, that's ok as well.  I kinda like that kids are not alone all the time (reduces screen time), so less structured hanging with friends is something I try to alternate with age appropriate summer camp activities (our kids like programming classes, one like parkour, there's science camp, flight camp, music, swimming, etc).

My son went to plenty

Submitted by mereloaded on Fri, 2017-04-14 - 17:17
My son went to plenty overnight camps. His condition is mild and stable though. He went to trips on his own plenty during high school for his varsity running and robotic competitions and they were overnight. Oh yes, he was home alone plenty, but again, he was diagnosed at 15 and he is fine. So ultimately it is your decision and it depends on whether or not his condition is controlled/stable. Teens value independence and learning to fend for themselves and be responsible for their own health is a good thing to learn. It increases confidence and self esteem to know that he is trusted and he doesn't need to be treated like a baby or a cripple, he is neither.He is now in college away from home and in the forms. He did have a seizure in college, and Supra singly, he took care of things on his own. He is an adult now, so it is up to him to fend for himself I suppose.Post
My son went to plenty overnight camps. His condition is mild and stable though. He went to trips on his own plenty during high school for his varsity running and robotic competitions and they were overnight. Oh yes, he was home alone plenty, but again, he was diagnosed at 15 and he is fine. So ultimately it is your decision and it depends on whether or not his condition is controlled/stable. Teens value independence and learning to fend for themselves and be responsible for their own health is a good thing to learn. It increases confidence and self esteem to know that he is trusted and he doesn't need to be treated like a baby or a cripple, he is neither.He is now in college away from home and in the forms. He did have a seizure in college, and Supra singly, he took care of things on his own. He is an adult now, so it is up to him to fend for himself I suppose.Post

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