Epilepsy is a terrible and mysterious disease that causes unpredictable seizures. Nearly 65 million people around the world suffer from Epilepsy, including 2.5 million Americans. Unfortunately, many children suffer from epilepsy, which is not only damaging to their immediate health, but also heavily impacts their psychological and social development.

Imagine the terror parents experience when they are unable to comfort their helpless child while undergoing an uncontrollable seizure. Imagine the terror of undergoing a seizure as a child under 5 years old, and having no idea what is happening or how to make it stop.

Although 70% of children respond to medication, and are able to control their seizures, many are not so lucky. Fortunately for the remaining 30%, programs at medical institutions, such as the Mattel Children’s Hospital in UCLA are providing cutting edge research to help find alternative treatments for epilepsy.

The Ketogenic Diet Program has proven to be one of the most effective alternative treatments for children with epilepsy. This diet is high in fat, low in carbohydrates, and involves an adequate amount of protein. A low-carb, high-fat diet allows the liver to produce “ketone bodies”, which pass into the brain and are used as an energy source. An elevated level of ketone bodies has been shown to reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures in children.

Nearly 50% of children with epilepsy who have tried the diet have seen their seizures decrease by at least 50%, and effects continue with commitment to the diet. Despite this success, the ketogenic diet still remains an experimental treatment, with research program’s like UCLA’s leading the way.

We at Hope So Bright are ecstatic at the success this program has seen, and are glad to support UCLA Research in this field. We are particularly touched by the story of Callie, who is an energetic, smart and lovable 2 and a half year old suffering from epilepsy. At only nine months old, Callie had her first seizure, and has had many more since.

After having repeated and traumatic seizures, Callie has been benefiting from the ketogenic diet and treatment at the UCLA Medical Center. She is now able to attend preschool with other children her age thanks to the innovative research conducted by UCLA. Of course, her continued success is dependent upon this research and specifically this research center.

Please donate to Hope So Bright in support of the Ketogenic Diet Program at UCLA.