��

� ��

In Loving Memory
of
� Robert Allen Hise

�

After Glow

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one,
I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is done,
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those who greive to dry before the sun,
Of happy memories that I leave behind when day is done.

Robert Allen Hise,
born September 8, 1971, Santa Clara, CA.
Entered into Eternal Life
August 19, 1994, San Jose, CA
Layed to rest at Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose Ca, Wednesday, August 24 1994, 10:30
am

Robert died of Epilepsy.

WHAT IS EPILEPSY ?

EPILEPSY is the term used to describe the tendancy in people to have recurrent spontaneous seizures. Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disorder affecting people of all ages. There are at least 350,000 people with epilepsy in this country. Anyone can develop epilepsy; it occurs in all age, races and social classes. Seizures tend to start in infancy or by late adolesence, but the incidence rises again after 65.

WHAT IS A SEIZURE ?

A seizure (often call a fit and sometimes an attack, turn or blackout) happens when ordinary highly complex brain activity is suddenly disrupted. Seizures can take many forms, since the brain is responsible for such a wide range of functions. Intelligence, personality, mood, memory, sensations, movements and consciousness are all controlled within the brain; any of these functions may be temporarily disturbed during the course of an epileptic seizure. Other factors may also determine the type of seizure, such as whether the person is asleep or awake, what they are doing at the time, the type of epilepsy they have, and whether all or only part of the brain is affected. Not all seizures involve convulsions and many different terms are used. It is important to use terms which describe what is happening during the seizure. A person with epilepsy can experience more that one type of seizure, but the pattern of seizures tends to remain fairly constant in an individual.

TYPES OF SEIZURE.

GENERALISED SEIZURES. In this type a large part of the brain is involved immeadiately at the ouset. Consciousness is lost. What happens next is rather variable depending on the individual.

TONIC CLONIC is the most dramatic form of generalised convulsive seizure (still sometimes called a 'major' or 'grand mal' seizure) in which the person becomes rigid, then falls to the ground and there is jerking of all four limbs. Breathing is laboured and there may be incontinence of urine. Not all these features are always seen. Other types of generalised seizures include:

TONIC in which there is general stiffening of muscles without rhythmical jerking. The person may fall to the ground if standing with consequent risk of injury.

ATONIC in which there is sudden loss of muscle tone and a collapse to the ground (also known as 'drop attacks').

MYOCLONIC in which abrupt jerking of the limbs occurs. These often happen within a short time of waking up, either on there own or in company with forms of generalised seizure.

ABSENCES in which there is a brief interuption of consciousness with out any other signs, except perhaps for a fluttering of the eyelids. These occur characteristically in children, when they are commonly called 'petit mal'.

PARTIAL SEIZURES. In these the disturbance in brain activity begins or involves a distinct area of the brain. The nature of these seizures is usually determined by the function of the part of the brain that is involved. Partial seizures are sometimes known as 'focal'. It is incorrect to call these seizures 'petit mal'. There are basically three types of partial seizure - Simple Partial, Complex Partial and Secondary Generalised.

SIMPLE PARTIAL. In these seizures consciousness is not impaired and the seizure is confined to either rhythmical twiching of one limb, or part of a limb, or to unusual sensations, such as pins and needles in a distinct part of the body.

COMPLEX PARTIAL. If the partial seizure involves parts of the brain responsible for mood and emotion (the temporal lobes) the term COMPLEX PARTIAL (or 'psycho-motor') will be used.

AURA. The initial part of these seizures may consist of a strange feeling welling up from the stomach, an unusual taste or smell or some other sensory disturbance. This is called 'AURA'. The seizure may then be characterised by a change in awareness as well as 'semi-purposive' movements (such as fiddling with clothes or nearby objects, and wandering about) and general confusion.
In some people either of the above may progress to a full blown convulsion. If this happens it is called a secondarily generalised seizure.

WHAT CAUSES SEIZURES?

In most people with epilepsy, seizures are spontanious events without a clear cause. However, in a few people; seizures can also be triggered by specific stimuli such as flashing light of certain frequencies, for example strobe lights or flickering TVs.
If seizures tend to be triggered by the TV, precautions can be taken which do not stop the veiwer from watching, such as not sitting too close to the set and lighting the room adequately. Lack of sleep, exhaustion, boredom, anxiety, abrupt cessation of anti-epileptic treatment and drinking too much alcohol may also bring on seizures in people who already have epilepsy. Some very young children have a generalised convulsion at the onset of feverish illness, a 'febrile convulsion'. This is frightening to parents, but these are common events and do not constitute epilepsy. If a baby has recurrent febrile convulsions, preventative drug treatment may be recommended.

Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
Epilepsy in young children
Early diagnosis important

Photo Index Page

Do you like the background set on this page. Well, visit Victorian Elegance and look around. You are bound to find something you like. I liked them all. :)