Caitlin Wilson, along with her friends and family, are raising funds for a device to give them ‘peace of mind’.
Caitlin Wilson and her children(Image: Caitlin Wilson)
A mum-of-three has said her heart breaks for her children as she raises funds to pay for an epilepsy alarm.
Caitlin Wilson is a mum-of-three from Bramley, Leeds, and was diagnosed with epilepsy when her oldest son was just one-year-old. She suffered from two seizures during the night which led to a diagnosis of epilepsy.
She has now been diagnosed with the condition for eight years, and has two more children. Previously, she managed with the condition well, and went as long as two years without a seizure.
Sadly, Caitlin’s condition has worsened over the past year-and-a-half, and her seizures have become more frequent and more severe. She said: “This, as you can imagine is extremely scary being a mother to three as at any point I could have a seizure whilst they’re in my care.
“As a mother I have had to teach my 9-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter how to contact emergency services, learn their address and know how to call my emergency contacts. For children as young as them this can feel like a big scary responsibility and it breaks my heart that I have to lean on them for support when they should be leaning on me for support.”
Caitlin, 28, can suffer from a seizure at any point during the day, and also suffers from focal seizures multiple times a day which causes her to lose focus, and go into a “blank stare”. She also suffers from fatigue and migraines as a result of the condition.
Caitlin Wilson and her children(Image: Caitlin Wilson)
Now, Caitlin, alongside her family and friends, is raising funds to pay for an epilepsy monitor. This expensive piece of equipment, which costs hundreds of pounds, is not provided by the NHS and would quickly alert people if she had a seizure.
She said: “Having an epilepsy alarm bracelet would give myself, my children and my family peace of mind that they would be alerted immediately when I have a seizure and be able to attend to me right away without having to worry about my children contacting the right people.
“That responsibility shouldn’t fall onto their heads at such a young age. It would allow me to have a little independence back also as I would have the alarm on me at all times regardless of where I am.
“It would mean the absolute world to myself and my family as it would give us all peace of mind that no matter where I am, what I’m doing, my seizure will be picked up on and an alert will be sent to emergency contacts who can come to assist ASAP.”
So far, £55 out of a target of £900 has been raised on the fundraiser. Caitlin said: “To anyone to has donated already, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea how this alarm/monitor will change mine and my children’s life’s. And to anyone who would like to donate, anything no matter how small is appreciated.
“Even if you can’t donate, share my story with your friends, families and colleagues to spread the word far and wide. Thank you for all the support.”
If you want to support Caitlin’s campaign, you can donate to it on GoFundMe here.
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