Pseudoseizures ruled as cause of death

A seizure has been ruled as Kelly Stanley's cause of death, and because of those findings, no criminal charges will be filed.

The findings were made after a pathologist at the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center in Fort Wayne did a second set of tests on the Centerville teen.

A release from Wayne County Coroner Kevin Fouche said that Stanley died of natural causes and her toxicology report was negative.

Psychogenic or non-epileptic seizures might be stress induced, the release said.

More information can be found regarding these types of seizures at www.epilepsyfoundation.org, the coroner's release noted.

According to that Web site, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures "seem to be caused by stressful psychological experiences or emotional trauma."

The emotional trauma, it noted, can be triggered by experiencing a major life event such as a divorce or the death of someone close.

"We investigated her (medical) history," Fouche said. "But I cannot release what we found."
Stanley, 18, died on Sept. 7, which is six days after her sister Erin Stanley, 19, was found unconscious and struggling to breathe in her bedroom in the same Centerville home.

Erin Stanley, whose body was found by her boyfriend, James H. McFarland, was pronounced dead at Reid Hospital.

Police kept mum on Erin Stanley's death until her parents, Dale and Lonny Stanley, discovered Kelly Stanley's body.

McFarland -- who fathered a child with Erin Stanley -- was arrested on a murder charge Oct. 10 in connection with Erin Stanley's death.

Because Kelly Stanley died of a seizure, there is no indication a homicide had been committed, Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman said.

However, because Kelly Stanley reportedly had been assisting investigators in trying to solve her sister's death, which was being investigated as a homicide, public suspicions were being directed toward McFarland, after his arrest in Erin's death.

"I did caution the community to reserve judgment until a report was returned," Shipman said. "I have dealt with a number of death investigations and I have learned it's better to be patient and wait for findings instead of jumping to conclusions."

Shipman said he was not aware of Kelly Stanley's medical history.

In the past, investigators said Kelly Stanley's death was being investigated as "suspicious."
"The criminal investigation has been concluded," Shipman said. "If no homicide has been committed, we cannot prosecute a crime."

Did experts find something that could help treat seizures?

This is the first human genetic mutation based mouse model in the world that mimics childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). The mouse is now helping Dr Steven Petrou and his team to understand the genesis of epilepsy, which will aid in the development of better anti-seizure drugs.

CAE involves brief staring spells, during which the child is not aware or responsive. These episodes can occur one to 50 times per day and the age of onset is usually three to 10 years.
In about 30% of people, anti-epileptic drugs do not adequately control their seizures and many drugs have side-effects such as rashes, lethargy and memory problems.

Dr Petrou said new treatment strategies were urgently needed to create beneficial drugs without side-effects.

"The problem with current drugs is that they treat the symptoms, not the root cause," Dr Petrou said.

"To develop new treatment strategies we need to understand the genesis of epilepsy, and this mouse model should provide a window into that fundamental process.

"We all know seizures occur if the brain's cortex goes haywire, but something is happening prior to that event to cause neurons to misfire, and we want to understand that initial event.

"Because mice grow so quickly, changes in the brain can be readily seen and measured.

"In a week the mouse can go from no seizures to seizures, so we can investigate what changes are occurring in that period and what is happening in the critical time window that leads to seizures.

"Initial findings suggest there is a defect in the brain's cortex which may be related to the beginning of seizures in CAE but we are delving into deeper brain structures as well," Dr Petrou said.

The inherited human gene mutation that causes CAE was first detected by Dr Petrou's collaborator, Prof Samuel Berkovic from Austin Health. Through genetic manipulation, Dr Petrou has introduced this human mutation into the mouse DNA, allowing the researchers to study a mouse version of the human condition.

The mutation itself is rare in humans but it causes CAE, which is one of the more common forms of epilepsy.

Dr Petrou said that modelling genetic epilepsies in mice will allow researchers to understand epilepsy from the molecular level all the way through to physical behaviour.

"Creating this link in the human brain is impossible due to the highly invasive methodology required, so mouse models provide us with a unique opportunity to discover mechanisms of seizure genesis," Dr Petrou added.

Dr Petrou's research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The Howard Florey is collaborating with Australian biotechnology company, Bionomics, to leverage this model for the advancement of anti-epilepsy drug discovery.

Epilepsy facts

According to the World Health Organisation approximately 50 million people around the world have epilepsy

More than 50% of children with epilepsy will outgrow their seizures as they mature, while others may have seizures that continue into adulthood.

Stolen camcorder helped treating grandson's seizures

A West Springfield grandmother is sending out a plea to find her missing camcorder containing information that would help her disabled grandson.Carol Crozier simply adores her grandson, Trevor. She and her husband are raising the 6-year-old, who has a unique chromosome disorder, causing him to have seizures and other medical complications.

"He does have a lot of medical problems, he's legally blind, he's got brain damage," Crozier said.Upon doctors orders, the Croziers bought an Aiptek Mega 4 camera to record Trevor's seizures. "My pediatrician said write everything down and video it, so we can see it and the neurologist - and that's what we were doing," said Carol.Then one weekend, she said, the camera disappeared, "Sunday he had a seizure and Monday, I couldn't find the camera.

We tore this whole house apart."The Croziers were forced to buy a new camera, but the cost was more than monetary. Carol said, "That's got all his medical on it. I can't replace that disk."Carol suspects her friend's nephew may have taken the camera while in the house that Saturday. Wherever it is, Carol said, she just wants the footage back, "Please, I need that video back. It's important, all his medical to help him. He needs that for the doctors. I need that, that's important."

University of Calgary found new treatment for seizures

Calgarian Philippa Baker feared the violent epileptic seizures that turned her home life into a living hell would kill her.

But groundbreaking treatment by University of Calgary researchers has given her a new lease on life and her family hope, said the 43-year-old.

“I felt like a drowning woman being thrown a life preserver,” she said.

“The success of my treatment has allowed me and my family to reclaim our lives.”

What turned the tables on Baker’s severe epilepsy was a comprehensive, research-based approach that monitored her seizures round the clock for two weeks.

That work isolated a lesion on her brain, with enough knowledge they were confident removing it wouldn’t rob her of her speech.

It’s also given scientists a vital window into how seizures affect the brain and how to analyze and manage the condition, said Dr. Cam Teskey, a U of C physiology and biophysics specialist.
“We have the ability to see how neurons talk to each other and we can talk to neurons,” he said.
“We can control exactly when and exactly where seizures occur.”

What makes efforts at Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute a world leader are the large team of highly-trained scientists and some of the best imaging technologies on the continent, say the researchers, said neurologist Dr. Paolo Federico.

“This presents a novel opportunity for preventing seizures in future patients,” he said.

Shaken Baby Syndrome causes seizured in infant

Her father, Christopher Dean Matthews, 30, denies a representative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard for safety.

Opening the case for the Crown in the Christchurch District Court yesterday, prosecutor Kerryn Beaton said that on September 17, 2005, three-month-old Caitlyn Matthews was admitted to Christchurch Hospital so unwell that doctors did not think she would survive.

She was found to be suffering from a subdural bleed to the brain, and once stabilised she was transferred to Starship children's hospital in Auckland.

Caitlyn was found to have suffered a serious head injury, with damage to both sides of the brain.
Doctors concluded the injuries may have occurred up to weeks before her admission, Beaton said.

The Crown alleges Matthews caused the injuries by shaking the baby.

In a police interview on September 29, 2005, Matthews admitted shaking Caitlyn when she would not settle.

His then partner and the child's mother, Natasha Hening, admitted to police she had seen him shaking the baby on two other occasions.

Caitlyn was subsequently taken from her parents and is now in the care of relatives.

Hening said that before suffering seizures, Caitlyn had been a happy baby who got into a regular feeding routine and slept easily.

The accused's sister, Melissa Matthews, who moved in with the couple after Caitlyn was born, said she had no concerns about the way she was cared for.

The case, before Judge Phil Moran and a jury, is proceeding.

Boise Dog Show gives award to pet who warned owner of upcoming seizures

A very important pet was honored Saturday at the Boise Dog Show as the winner of the Seventh Annual AKC awards for Canine Excellence.

The program recognizes top service dogs who make daily life better for their owners.

This year's winner is Holly, a 6-year-old Shetland sheepdog, who helps alert her master Shanna Wilkinson to seizures.

Holly has been with Wilkinson since she was a puppy and began displaying unusual behaviors around her owner just before the girl would have a seizure. Eventually Wilkinson was diagnosed with epilepsy and it was discovered that Holly has a rare ability to predict seizures five or 10 minutes before they occur.

"She's really given me my life back, because when I was 17, I was a teenager and had a life when I started having seizures. I couldn't do anything and with Holly she's given me back my independence and I'm going to school and now I can hang out with friends," said Shanna Wilkenson, the dog's owner.

Wilkenson doesn't know exactly how some dog's are able to predict seizures, but with the advance warning she's always able to get to a safe place before her seizure hits.

Holly will also receive a $1,000 check during the nationally televised AKC/Eukanuba National Championship show this December.

Autism and Seizures: A Parents' Story!

Twenty-nine years is a long time to have your heart torn apart. But that's exactly how it feels to watch the autistic son you love be unfairly judged and scorned by strangers for his behavior.
Barbara Coppo of Vallejo, author of "The Boy in the Window: A Journey Through an Unexpected Tragedy" (Morgan James Publishing, $26.95), always has seen beyond her son's actions and has cherished the rare moments when Kenny shows affection.

"There are no real kisses or hugs," she writes. "But when inclined, Kenny will quickly lower his head toward your shoulder, which may include a brief touch of his hand, too."

Barbara, 65, and her husband, Ken, 67, talked about their son's autism during a phone interview. Just reading Barbara's description of life with Kenny -- dealing with seizures, searching for special education programs and frequent medical appointments -- is overwhelming. The Coppos, who also have an adult daughter without autism, personify the term "unconditional love" between parent and child.

Barbara Coppo's book was released Oct. 1, two weeks after the memoir by actress Jenny McCarthy. McCarthy's new book, "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism" (Dutton, $23.95), explains how her son, Evan, has thrived after therapy and treatment.

However, the book "Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (Gryphon House, $24.95) says children have varying degrees of autism. "Most professionals agree that each child with autism is unique and has his or her weaknesses, and each child falls somewhere on a spectrum of having a few more or a few less of certain characteristics than other children," Clarissa Willis writes.

According to the book, these characteristics include:

A significant delay in social interaction, such as eye contact or facial expression.

A communication delay.

Behaviors, including stereotypical behavior, such as intense, almost obsessive, preoccupation with objects.

The need for routines that are non-functional and ritualistic, such as lining up all the books or food in a certain matter.

Repeating motor movements over and over, such as finger-popping or handflapping.

The Coppos said the change in their son occurred at 19 months. Kenny had nine seizures three days after his last series of childhood vaccinations.

"There are so many times I wonder about the man he would have turned out to be had it not been for the devastation he suffered from the vaccination when he was a baby," Barbara writes.
Barbara describes Kenny as having a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality.

"When he is feeling good, he's in a better mood. We can tell when he's not feeling good" due to medication, she says. "He's grumpy and irritable. He can't communicate with us, and it frustrates him."

One victory occurred when Kenny was 16. He was able to answer questions by pointing to the letters of a computer or keyboard. Lately, Kenny isn't interested in doing computer work, Barbara says.

Years ago, the Coppos were told to consider placing Kenny in an institution. "Trying to raise a child like this would be a living hell," their doctor said.

Kenny, physically a grown man, has never said a single sentence, must be given showers and helped in the bathroom, and is prone to seizures. Sometimes, when it's time for bed, Kenny is combative.

The couple's devotion to their son has meant rare moments away from home. "It's almost like we have two different lives," Ken Coppo says. "There's our life with Kenny and the one we have when we get away. It's how our lives, retired and without kids, should be like. Then we come home, and it's back to reality."

The columnist can be reached at maguirre@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6482.

Walk for Epilepsy!

On Sunday, October 14 the Epilepsy Foundation will host their annual Freedom Walk in Griffith Park.

I spoke with Greg Grunberg, the Honorary Chair of the walk, about his involvement with the organization. "It's a fun two hour walk in Griffith Park. We are raising a lot of money for The Epilepsy Foundation. Our team is called the Crazy Brainwaves. It's led by my eleven year old son Jake who has had epilepsy since he was seven. He's an example of a difficult to treat case.

Everyday we battle to fine tune his medication. We are always striving to get his seizures under control. At the same time, you'd never know he has it. He's almost a black belt in karate and an all star baseball player. Even though he knows that he has the potential for having seizures, he goes to school everyday. He has the support of his family, friends and the faculty at school.

As long as everyone is aware of the fact that someone could have a seizure, there isn't any reason why everyone around you shouldn't know that you have Epilepsy. People shouldn't be freaked out about it."

"The whole point of the walk both the national walk and also this one on Oct 14 is to just get out and support the work of The Epilepsy Foundation. If you have epilepsy, if you know someone who does, if you want to support people who have seizure disorders, come out and walk with us. People with Epilepsy can live perfectly normal lives. There shouldn't be any stigma attached to seizures. We are going to run and walk as fast as we possibly can to find a cure and to get better treatment and funding. We support the work that the scientists and the doctors are doing to fight this neurological disorder."

To join Greg and his family go to the Epilepsy Foundation website. You can make a donation or sign up to participate in the walk. Click on the link to the Crazy Brainwaves if you would like to be a member of Jake's team.