Category Archive

Medical Information

New report provides Ontario-specific findings for epilepsy and other brain disorders

July 23, 2015

By Deron Hamel The collective impact and prevalence of brain disorders, including epilepsy, in Ontario is explored in a new report developed by the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) and the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences (ICES). Specifically, the report, which was published in July, provides an understanding of the cumulative prevalence of 13 brain…

Scholarship winner began advocating for epilepsy awareness shortly after diagnosis

July 16, 2015

By Deron Hamel It wasn’t long after Sarah Hysenaj had her first seizure that she became an epilepsy awareness advocate. Sarah was 11 years old and on a school field trip when she had her first seizure in front of her classmates. Fortunately for Sarah, her teacher knew exactly what was happening and what to…

Supreme Court’s medicinal marijuana ruling a relief for family of child with Dravet syndrome

June 18, 2015

By Deron Hamel The Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision to legalize all forms of consumption of medicinal marijuana means Mandy McKnight no longer has to break the law in order to stop her young son’s seizures. Mandy’s seven-year-old son, Liam, has Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy with frequent, prolonged, drug-resistant seizures. He…