My name is Cole. I am 3 years old. I was a healthy little boy saying "mama" & "dada" and waving, until 10 months old when I suddenly developed "A-tonic drop seizures" & "Absent Seizures" aka "Petit-Mal" in August 2009. My world suddenly changed as I had hundreds of seizures a day. After I started having seizures, my brain couldn't keep up and I was diagnosed with severe brain disorder called "Epileptic Encephalopathy" and started regressing developmentally. I stopped pointing, waving & saying mama & dada. I don't talk anymore & get frustrated so I cry a lot. I am developmentally a 10 month old & a 20 month old motor-wise, but I am really 3.

I started the Ketogenic Diet in 2010-2011, it helped 75% of my seizures, I was on it for 1 year...but ALL of the seizures came back in FULL FORCE. I've also been diagnosed with "Irretractable Epilepsy" meaning that my seizures are being treated, but they aren't stopping. Doctors call me a "complicated" case and don't know how to help me. On February 22, 2011, I flew across the country to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and neurologist Dr. Deepak Lachhwani found that my left temporal & occipital lobes are malformed. They found a 3rd seizure type as well, "Infantile Spasms" aka "West Syndrome" which are HORRIBLE seizures with a poor prognosis on development.

On September 1, 2011 I had brain surgery to remove my Left Temporal & Occipital Lobes by the BEST neurosurgeon, Dr. William Bingaman (who has done the MOST pediatric brain surgery's and has NEVER had a fatality...most hospitals have a 1 in 100 deaths from brain surgery). I had 150+ seizures a/day for 2 straight years. Since my surgery, my mommy & daddy haven't seen any "S's". I will go back to Cleveland this March 2012 for an MRI & EEG to see if I am having any "S's"...then I will go back September 2012 & every year after that. I am doing *A LOT* of therapy & preschool!  
p.s. I started babbling and saying "mama"...2 months after my surgery since I started having seizures 2 years ago!!!!

Read more about Cole's amazing journey and his family's amazing courage at http://beatingepilepsy.blogspot.com/

Cole's Ryan's Lion was passed on to him by the Tim Wright Family. Tim's Ryan's Lion was passed on to him by Drew.  Thanks for passing on the courage!