One day when I was 17, I happened to be home alone with my father. As a result of three strokes a year earlier, Dad was paralysed on his right side and had lost his speech. On this particular day, I remember in vivid detail walking down the hall into
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THE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM A Blog by Donna Thomson: Illness Experiences + Emotions = Treatment Choices
Me with my Dad One day when I was 17, I was home alone with my Dad. I was lying on my bed reading and Dad was in his living room arm chair. At that time, my father was paralyzed on his right side from a series a strokes and
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Research Review: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
My son Conor, now 19 1/2 years old, stimming, a recognized feature of autism spectrum disorder, in this older picture. Conor, a couple of years ago, at the Chalmers Hospital intensive care unit, where he was being treated for rhabdomyolisis, a seriious adverse reaction to his epilepsy seizure meds at that time.
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Research Review: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
I have attached a copy of the abstract of the reseach review Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy: Two Sides of the Same Coin? I hope to obtain a copy of the study itself and more importantly I hope that the study encourages more study and discussion by neurological researchers and professionals of this subject.
© The Author(s) 2015.
autism spectrum disorder; biomarkers; electroencephalography; epilepsy; intellectual disability
Facing Autism in New Brunswick: Research Review: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
My son Conor, now 19 1/2 years old, stimming, a recognized feature of autism spectrum disorder, in this older picture. Conor, a couple of years ago, at the Chalmers Hospital intensive care unit, where he was being treated for rhabdomyolisis, a serious adverse reaction to his epilepsy seizure meds at that time.
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Disorder AND Epilepsy (But NO SUDEP!!!) at 6:05 AM
I was awake at 5:30 this morning, had some breakfast, and was enjoying a mug (not a cup, a mug) of coffee when I noticed that the time was 6:05 am. Startled I jumped up to see if everything was OK with my son Conor. Conor suffers from severe autism
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Disorder AND Epilepsy (But NO SUDEP!!!) at 6:05 AM
I was awake at 5:30 this morning, had some breakfast, and was enjoying a mug (not a cup, a mug) of coffee when I noticed that the time was 6:05 am. Startled I jumped up to see if everything was OK with my son Conor. Conor suffers from sever…
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Disorder AND Epilepsy (But NO SUDEP!!!) at 6:05 AM
I was awake at 5:30 this morning, had some breakfast, and was enjoying a mug (not a cup, a mug) of coffee when I noticed that the time was 6:05 am. Startled I jumped up to see if everything was OK with my son Conor. Conor suffers from severe autism
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Conor After Another Seizure
. Conor has been on a good run for the previous 7-10 days and today was pretty much the same until 6:15 this evening when we heard a loud thump uupstairs. His mom ran upstairs and screamed for help when she saw him convulsing on the floor with thick fluids
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Conor After Another Seizure
. Conor has been on a good run for the previous 7-10 days and today was pretty much the same until 6:15 this evening when we heard a loud thump uupstairs. His mom ran upstairs and screamed for help when she saw him convulsing on the fl…
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Conor After Another Seizure
. Conor has been on a good run for the previous 7-10 days and today was pretty much the same until 6:15 this evening when we heard a loud thump uupstairs. His mom ran upstairs and screamed for help when she saw him convulsing on the floor with thick fluids
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism, Intellectual Disability and Seizures, When Together, Constitute ONE DISORDER
In the picture above, taken 3 years ago my son erupted in sudden self injurious behavior smashing himself violently in the head a split second after he had been on the swing at his old grade school, Nashwaaksis Memorial School; a split second after he had been very smiling and
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism and Epilepsy from Facebook to Reality: Conor Experiences Another Seizure
Earlier today I posted to my Facebook page and to the Autism Society New Brunswick FB page the link to Tonic-clonic seizures at Epilepsy.com. I included the note that it was important for persons with autism to be aware of such seizures because of the high number of person who
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Severe Autism With Intellectual Disability And Epilepsy Can Be Tough But It’s Still a Wonderful World
My Son Conor Wore The Blue on World Autism Awareness Day I understand some of the criticisms of the day and of thinking that wearing a color in itself creates autism awareness but as long as people raise real autism awareness of the challenges of autism disorders and the related
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: 2 Thumbs Up for the Chalmers Hospital As It Rocks Purple Day to Raise Awareness for Epilepsy! March 26, 2015
Dawn Bowie, a long time friend who works at the Emergency Department of the Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton New Brunswick shared this Youtube video of staff at the Chalmers rocking Purple Day yesterday. I saw it a few minutes ago and it made a great start to my day. Seeing
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Disorders and the 1st International Epilepsy Day, February 9, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015 is the first International Epilepsy Day, a joint initiative created by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) scheduled to occur annually hereafter on the second Monday in February to promote epilepsy awareness around the world. Epileptic seizures are
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Society Canada Misrepresents Autism On Its Web Site Makeover By Hiding The Many with Autism AND Intellectual Disability
The Autism Society Canada web site was down briefly and I had hoped, notwithstanding past experience, that the ASC would have started presenting an accurate picture of autism disorders to the Canadian public and families with autism disorders. My hopes, faint as they might have been, were dashed again. ASC,
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: SUDEP The Global Conversation Combating The Myth That Seizures Do Not Kill
Many with autism disorders also suffer from epileptic seizures and should be aware of the risk of SUDEP, Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. The following is a News Release about SUDEP the global conversation a joint effort of several epilepsy and SUDEP awareness ogranizations in the US, Canada and Australia:Families,
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Joy of Conor 2014
I will not pretend, I will never pretend, that autism is just a different way of thinking. Heather and I love our son too much to lie to the world about the nature of his autism realities, his severe autism, intellectual disability and epileptic seizures. Like many parents of autistic
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Conor’s 3rd Tonic Clonic (Grand Mal) Seizure
Two and a half hours ago Conor suffered his 3rd Tonic Clonic or Grand Mal seizure. (He also suffered an episode of rhabdomyolisis, a serious adverse reaction to his previous seizure medication). On the previous 2 seizures Conor was in a room by himself when they started, this time he
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