http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/1000/kids/matthewf.htm

Personal info Child

• name: Matthew Proffitt
• sex: Male
• date of birth: 6/7/95
• country/state: Texas

Epilepsy info

• primary diagnosis: Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
• additional:Febrile Seizures
• cause: According to the doctor, unknown. Epilepsy does not run in our family. I believe, Matthew, has seizures due to a reaction to the MMR vaccine.
• date diagnosed: 11-98
• type(s) of seizures: 8 Grand Mal, 1 Petit Mal
• frequency of seizures: One grand mal in 1996. One grand mal in 1997. 5 gramd mal in 1998. One petit mal in 1998 and one grand mal in 1999.
• additional health issues: Asthma, allergies, colds, strep throat, shigella, scarlet fever.

Medications used (in chronological order)

1. Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol)
• still being used: No
• effectiveness: Unknown
• max. dose: Unsure
• positive effect: Unknown
• side effects: Liver damage
• comments: We never gave this medication to Matthew. Matthew runs 103-105 fevers for 6-8 hours. We are already concerned about liver damage from Motrin and Tylenol so we never gave it to Matthew. It was prescribed by his pediatrician 3 days before we saw a pediatric neurologist who then took Matthew off the medicine.

2. Phenobarbital
• still being used: No
• effectiveness: Unknown
• max. dose: 1tsp twice a day
• positive effect: Unknown
• side effects: Skin Rash
• comments: Matthew developed a severe skin rash about a week after starting the medicine. I took him to his doctor who dismissed the rash. A week later it was worse, Matthew's daycare would not accept him. I took him back to the doctor and he told me that it was a pheno allergic reaction. I asked him why he didn't diagnose it the preceeding week and he said that Matthew really need the medicine to control his seizures and he thought the rash might go away. We stopped the medicine immediately. It took 2 more weeks for the rash to clear up

Personal Notes

I firmly believe that Matthew had a reaction to the MMR vaccine. I have done extensive research and I stand firmly on my decision. Matthew will never have another vaccine again. He has had 4 dtp, 1 mmr, 1 polio, 4 hib, 3 hep b. I had always heard bad things about the dtp vaccine and was worried about Matthew receiving it. I asked his doctor not to administer the dtp, but rather the dt. My mother disagrees with the pertussis vaccine and myself, nor my 3 brother or sisters ever had a dtp, but rather the dt. None of us ever came down with whooping cough. The doctor (we no longer see him) bullied me into getting the dtp shots. When we started with a new doctor, I explained my fear of the pertussis shot and Matthew's history of seizures. The doctor looked at me and said "The pertussis vaccine does not cause seizures, but makes a child run a fever, therefore, bring on a seizure. My research proved him wrong and led me to the conclusion, doctors do not like to admit children have vaccine reactions. Matthew had one EEG done in January of 1998 after having 2 febrile seizures in one day. It was normal. He had 4 more seizures, 3 febrile, 1 epileptic, then he was given another EEG and MRI. The EEG was abnormal and the diagnosis was benign rolandic epilepsy, the MRI was normal. I urge all parents to research vaccines. According to the Amercian Medical Association Matthew is medically exempt from taking the dtp vaccine for life. We went to enroll Matthew this fall into a private school for pre-k. The principal would not take him since he had seizures. He told me that the school was not equipped in handling "things like that." Matthew is a healthy happy boy. He is reading on a 1st grade level and does 65 piece jig saw puzzles. He has no learning disabilites, however, he has a low immune system and is suspiciously ADHD. If anyone would like to talk, please give me a call. Christi Proffitt 254-539-3438

Contact info

For additional information, please send e-mail to Christi (cj0715@juno.com)

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.