I want to introduce you to Evan Moss, and his parents, Lisa and Rob, whose continuing story exemplifies the art of making a difference.
Evan turned seven last year; and by the way, he also wrote and illustrated his first book “My Seizure Dog”. Yes, Evan is a typical little boy; he loves Pokemon, and his favorite cartoon is “Phineas and Ferb”. However, since infancy Evan’s epileptic seizures had left time for little else.
When Evan was four years old, he underwent brain surgery for tuberous sclerosis complex, a condition that caused him to have 300 to 400 short seizures each month. Since the surgery, though, Evan has been experiencing much longer and more serious seizures that require medications and even emergency medical response.
Children living with epilepsy can die suddenly without explanation or suffocate in their beds if they have a seizure while they are sleeping. A seizure dog specially trained to alert epileptics and their families of seizures before they happen was recommended for Evan. Families are asked to contribute $13,000 toward the $22,000 cost of the highly trained animal. Evan used his natural talent for writing and illustration, to raise the $13,000 to get a seizure dog for himself through the sales of his book. Even more incredible, sales generated enough money to support others in their having a seizure dog.
Now, you can imagine that Evan and his family spend a lot of time with doctors. In the process of keeping track of all of Evan’s information on paper, his dad created a website to track everything electronically. Seizure Tracker has had a huge impact on Evan’s family, and its availability on the web has made a difference for others around the world that are living with epilepsy.
This family is so inspiring in how they have taken action and made a difference not only within their own family, and countless others around the world.
Evan has also been nominated by People Magazine for their “Reader’s Choice Hero” award, and he was chosen as one of Huffington Post’s most influential children of 2011.
See for yourself this incredible boy and his family whose lives personify the art of making a difference.
