Find a Cause, Find a Cure For David Smith

David’s Story

Many of you know that my cousin David (Candi’s and Dave 9 year old son) has epilepsy.  David was diagnosed at the age of four and they are not exactly sure of the cause.  David was immediately placed on medicine which kept him seizure free for three years.  Two years ago the seizures returned and the new journey for them began.  David went to the Cleveland Clinic numerous times to help control the seizure activity but David continued to have seizures regularly.  Candi and Dave decided to get a second opinion for David and went to Akron Children’s Hospital. The new doctors were open to Candi and Dave suggestions and ran different tests. While waiting for those results David was admitted to Akron Children’s and had a MRI of his brain and spine and a spinal tap to see if it would offer answers to why David is continually having seizures.  Within 24 hours Candi and Dave received the news that Davids brain is shrinking and slowing down and will continue to do so with no treatment available.   Candi and Dave are still waiting for the results from the spinal tap but the doctors stated that David will need genetic testing.  Genetic testing costs thousands of dollars in which their insurance DOES NOT cover.  Genetic testing could provide insight into how to slow the shrinkage of the brain.   Dave and Candi are going to pay for the testing out of pocket immediately due to the fact it takes FOUR months to get the results back and they do not want to waste a single minute.  Currently David is still having seizures regularly.  When he has seizures that last 4 minutes or longer, Candi is required to give him a suppository that will help him recover.  Each suppository cost $800 in which the insurance also does NOT cover so they continue to pay for them out of pocket.  Last week alone, she had to use 2 suppositories to help David recover in which he is required to go to the ER after when given.  As you can imagine, the medical bills are rolling in.  Not only the genetic testing, the emergency medicine, his daily meds and all of the hospital visits the medical bills are piling up. 

Candi and Dave would like to let ADULTS be aware of what is going on but they ask that you respect their decision to not share with your children the severity of the situation.  David and Olivia as well as his friends and family know David has seizures but that is all they know.  Im sure you can understand that this is a lot of information to digest and there is no reason to share all of this information with children especially David and Olivia who would not be able to process and understand completely.     

Our family loves David so much and we need to find out what is causing the shrinkage of the brain and stop it completely!  If you have any questions please feel free to private message me or Jill Jurjavcic so that Candi and Dave are not being bombarded with texts and messages.  Candi and Dave as well as our families would appreciate prayers for David and any and all well wishes!

David is a 4th grader at Crestview Local Elementary school.  He loves to hunt, fish and to play baseball.  He is loved by his mom and dad as well as his 6 year old sister Olivia and numerous aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins!!