Mike Fritts's Fundraiser
I am running to Protect Kids with Epilepsy
Please support my Marathon for Danny Did Foundation
As we walked to the car having just finished dinner at PF Chang's, my daughter Ava squeezed my hand and stared at me. I asked her if everything was all right but she didn't respond. She just stared at me. Then her whole body started to convulse. She was having her first seizure. Fortunately, I was there to hold her and slowly lower her to the ground.
It is SO scary watching your child go through this. The feelings of helplessness and fear and wondering if your child is going to live are hard to describe.
About 10% of the population will have a seizure during their lifetime. We didn't know yet whether this was an isolated incident or the start of our epilepsy journey.
Approximately 5 months later, I walked into Ava's room and found her in bed having a second grand mal seizure. The same feelings of fear and helplessness immediately returned.
Ava was subsequently diagnosed with epilepsy. Her seizures are controlled with medication, but the constant concerns and fears never leave your mind.
Running was a big part of my life when my kids were little. I guess I made the mistake (LOL!) of telling them if they wanted to run a half or full marathon, "let's do it together". Great idea at the time which assumed 20 years of work and life would not get in the way between the offer and a kid accepting it. Wyatt called me on this offer earlier this year when telling me that we were going to run the Chicago Marathon.
Once we decided to run Chicago together, I wanted to run & raise money for a great cause because I know how epilepsy affects families. That is where you and the Danny Did Foundation come in. The Danny Did Foundation supports families and raises awareness around SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death from Epilepsy). Please consider supporting me and the Danny Did Foundation.
ENJOY LIFE! DANNY DID!
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About Danny Did Foundation
Founded by Chicago parents Mike and Mariann Stanton in 2010 after the sudden death of their four-year-old son Danny, the Danny Did Foundations primary mission is to prevent deaths caused by seizures. The Foundation advances public awareness of epilepsy and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), strives to improve communication about SUDEP between medical professionals and families affected by seizures, and advocates for the mainstream acceptance and use of seizure detection and prediction devices that may assist in preventing seizure-related deaths.
Epilepsy affects 3.4 million people in the United States and 65 million people worldwide. One in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. But what few people understand, including many people with epilepsy, is that seizures can be fatal. More people die as a result of seizures than from fires and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) combined. In addition to deaths caused by drowning, other accidents, and status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), thousands of deaths occur annually from SUDEP, a fact that is little known and too rarely addressed by medical professionals and in public discussions of epilepsy. Danny Did Foundation takes its name from the last line of Danny Stanton’s obituary, written by his dad: “Please go and enjoy your life. Danny did.” We celebrate Danny’s spirit in every child and family we reach.