Danny

Meet Danny.  He was a 4 year old boy whose life was cut too short because of Epilepsy.  Here is his story.

Daniel George Stanton was born on March 2, 2005.  He was the third child for Mike and Mariann and they couldn't be happier.  At 2 years old, Danny became an older brother as well.  Danny loved doing many things and was very good at athletics.  He mainly enjoyed kickball and basketball.  Danny loved making people happy, he would help his neighbors Pete and Betty carry in their groceries or help in the yard.  Family was very important to him.  He loved spending time with his mom and dad and was very content when he was with his siblings John, Mary Grace and Tommy. 

At 2 years old, Danny had his first seizure.  While sleeping in bed with his mom, his eyes rolled back into his head and he started shaking.  911 was called and they also took him to their neighbors house who also happened to be a paramedic.  That first seizure almost lasted 10 minutes.  At the hospital that night, they were told  that kids sometimes have seizures for no reason and that he could possibly outgrow them.  Danny's parents began having him sleep in their bed to monitor him.  Danny had MRI's and EEG's all of which showed no underlying cause.  He was never even diagnose with Epilepsy, he was diagnosed as childhood seizure disorder.   He was put on medications and told that he again would outgrow them. 

Danny's parents eventually had him sleep in his own bed but would frequently bring him back in after checking on him and finding him having a seizure, one time his lips were even blue.  Again, the doctors reassured the Stanton's that it was normal and never once did they mention the word death.  After a whole year had gone by, Danny was back in his own bed again.  It had been 18 months since Danny had had any known seizures and the Stanton's were happy.  They trusted that the neurologist had been right and that the course of action they had been taking was successful.

On December 12, 2009, Danny's body was found in his bed.  They tried to revive him, neighbors tried to revive him and so did the doctors and nurses.  Danny died in his sleep to something called SUDEP.  SUDEP stands for Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy.  I am sure I do not even need to begin to tell you of the huge hole this has left in the Stanton family, the sudden loss of a child is a huge blow.  For many people, this becomes the beginning of the end.  Families will never be the same and they somehow just seem to get by each day.  This is not the case for the Stanton's.

Less than a month after Danny was gone, Mike and Mariann Stanton started The Danny Did Foundation.  They have made it their mission to spread awareness of SUDEP.  They have helped numerous families get an Emfit movement monitor that would set off an alarm if a seizure is detected in sleep (monitor issued is based on individual financial need).  You can find out much more information by visiting http://www.dannydid.org/.

With November being Epilepsy Awareness Month, The Danny Did Foundation is holding a campaign.  They are hoping to have 1,000 people donate $25 in order to raise funds to help them raise awareness.  As I write this $2,641 has been raised and we are only in the beginning days.  This foundation is not just another foundation I am writing about.  I am one of those people who have been blessed to receive an Emfit monitor.  I sleep so much better knowing that I will be alarmed if my daughter has a seizure.  Nothing would mean more than to help them so they can continue to help others.  Please take the time to go to their page and learn about Danny and how you can help.  After doing that, please go HERE to donate the $25 tax deductible donation.  You will be making a huge difference in someones life!!!

Luckily Danny was too young to know exactly what was going on.  He went about his days as any normal 4 year old would.  He played with his good friend Charlie, loved being around his Uncle George, age didn't matter when it came to Danny, he loved spending time with everyone.  And that is exactly the legacy his family would want you to remember him by.  Danny cared for others, he loved giving hugs to his mom and dad each and every day.  At such a young age he was able to comfort those around him in such a striking way.  He continues to do this even in death.  I don't know if his family was ever prepared for the amount of love that people would find for Danny, strangers whose lives have been touched by this special little boy.  Danny was a special gift to his family and continues to show his love for others through the work of his parents.

Please take the time to help, learn about seizures and what you can do if you see someone having a seizure.  And please, inform yourself on SUDEP, make it a part of your vocabulary and let others know as well.  And more than anything, please go and enjoy your life just as Danny did!!!!