Angela Halpin/Sangiuolo Family Fund
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Maria Sangiuolo-Halpin, and this is the story on behalf of my daughter Angela Halpin.
Angela is a nonverbal 18 year old with intellectual disabilities, autistic like characteristics, along with a history of seizures. She is dependent on all of her activities of daily living which enables her to have a normal life.
Angela began with her seizures as an infant, and eventually grew out of them for a long time. Years have passed, until one day, it became heartbreaking to see, they have returned.
The seizures I began to witness were complex partial seizures. This happens several times per day, everyday, seconds to a minute long. She will stare off in space, and at the same time she will have a myoclonic component seizure, which is a quick, involuntary muscle jerk in her upper body with her eyes blinking at the same time. Various medications for a long time have not brought these seizures under control.
On August 30th, 2016, Angela was rushed to the ER. What started out as a good morning for us both, turned out to be worse in a matter of minutes. Trying to understand what was going on, and also trying to understand what I was seeing. She can not talk to tell me what was wrong. She was in and out of consciousness for three hours from home to the time she was in the hospital. It turned out to be a stronger onset of seizures, stronger than the ones she experiences everyday. It was a Petit Mal seizure.
I am currently going under the care of NYU in NYC with a team of new neurologists, who specialize in Epilepsy. Angela will be hospitalized and will be having a video EEG soon. It is a test that will record her brainwaves to find out what is going on, where exactly in her brain these seizures are coming from, and of course, better treatment for her. It will also determine whether she will have surgery, called Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS Therapy). It is designed to prevent seizures by sending regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via vagus nerve. These pulses are supplied by a device something like a pacemaker. Praying she will be seizure free.
I've spent countless days at doctor appointments, with more in the future. It was mentioned to me Angela is going to need around the clock care for awhile, which includes myself, and outside agencies which will cause a financial hardship for my daughter and I. I am asking family and friends first, please pray for my baby girl. Second, if you would be kind enough to donate at this time of need, and/or feel free to share along. Thank You in advance.
Maria
Angela is a nonverbal 18 year old with intellectual disabilities, autistic like characteristics, along with a history of seizures. She is dependent on all of her activities of daily living which enables her to have a normal life.
Angela began with her seizures as an infant, and eventually grew out of them for a long time. Years have passed, until one day, it became heartbreaking to see, they have returned.
The seizures I began to witness were complex partial seizures. This happens several times per day, everyday, seconds to a minute long. She will stare off in space, and at the same time she will have a myoclonic component seizure, which is a quick, involuntary muscle jerk in her upper body with her eyes blinking at the same time. Various medications for a long time have not brought these seizures under control.
On August 30th, 2016, Angela was rushed to the ER. What started out as a good morning for us both, turned out to be worse in a matter of minutes. Trying to understand what was going on, and also trying to understand what I was seeing. She can not talk to tell me what was wrong. She was in and out of consciousness for three hours from home to the time she was in the hospital. It turned out to be a stronger onset of seizures, stronger than the ones she experiences everyday. It was a Petit Mal seizure.
I am currently going under the care of NYU in NYC with a team of new neurologists, who specialize in Epilepsy. Angela will be hospitalized and will be having a video EEG soon. It is a test that will record her brainwaves to find out what is going on, where exactly in her brain these seizures are coming from, and of course, better treatment for her. It will also determine whether she will have surgery, called Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS Therapy). It is designed to prevent seizures by sending regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via vagus nerve. These pulses are supplied by a device something like a pacemaker. Praying she will be seizure free.
I've spent countless days at doctor appointments, with more in the future. It was mentioned to me Angela is going to need around the clock care for awhile, which includes myself, and outside agencies which will cause a financial hardship for my daughter and I. I am asking family and friends first, please pray for my baby girl. Second, if you would be kind enough to donate at this time of need, and/or feel free to share along. Thank You in advance.
Maria
Organizer
Maria Sangiuolo
Organizer
New York, NY