I am extremely excited about Nichole’s Recovery. I have spent an enormous amount of time and money helping my little girl, Nichole. There were many people who told me that Nichole was never going to walk, never going to talk, and never going to accomplish anything. To accomplish Great things, you must believe! I believed in Nichole from the time she was born. I believed in Nichole until she could believe in herself. Jim Abrahams, an American movie director and founder of the Charlie Foundation, helped to get Nichole on the ketogenic diet. Jim Abrahams’ son, Charlie, epilepsy had been cured by the ketogenic diet. My daughter, Nichole, has been on the ketogenic diet for three years. Nichole was having 100 seizures a day when she started the diet on December 22, 2010. Today, her seizures have completely stopped because of the ketogenic diet.
The ketogenic diet was created over 70 years ago to treat epilepsy. At that time, there were very few medicines to treat seizures. The diet remains valuable today. It can make some children free from seizures, even when seizure medicines have not worked.
The ketogenic diet is a form of treatment. It has possible serious side effects. A doctor must prescribe it. Do not try to start your child on this diet without a doctor’s help. The diet is based on your child’s height and weight.
Will the diet prevent my child from having seizures?
It cannot predict how well the diet will work. Each child responds differently. 50-70% of children on the ketogenic diet have good results. Some children become totally free of seizure. Some children are not seizure free after treatment, but their number of seizures is greatly reduced.
For the best chance at success, the diet must be followed exactly. All caregivers must agree to all of the food restrictions all of the time. Limiting a child’s food choice is very hard. It can be emotional for the whole family. The dietitian will teach you how to fit this diet into your family’s lifestyle. The dietitian will also work with your child’s school so that they can help your child stay on the diet during the school day.
What will my child eat?
On this diet, your child will eat mostly fat (90%) – butter, margarine, mayonnaise, oil, and cream. A little bit (10%) of protein – meat, cheese, fish, and poultry and carbohydrate – fruits, vegetables, breads, and pasta is allowed. The dietitian usually prescribes 3 meals and a snack. All food portions must be weighed. Your child may not save food from one meal to the next. Second helpings are not allowed.
How long will my child be on the diet?
Most children are on the diet for 3 years. Your child will start with the 90% / 10% protein and carbohydrate and change that over time, similar to the way that your child’s medicines are adjusted to meet his needs.
Will my child be able to do this?
It is not easy to be on the diet, but when the family, school, and other caregivers work well the hospital staff, the children learn to adjust. Sometimes the diet makes the child more alert and interested in family / school activities.
Perhaps this diet should be called the ketogenic regime or ketogenic therapy. Unlike a “diet” the ketogenic diet cannot be broken for birthdays, holidays, vacation, etc. If this diet is broken, the medication effect could be temporally disrupted, placing the child at risk for seizures. This diet must be adhered to all times.
I want you to be successful, and I will support you through this. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Barbara Gertman is the author of Creating Multiple Streams of Income: Opening the Gateway to
Automatic Riches. Barbara is CEO of B~Unique Publishing, specializing in custom book publishing and social media marketing services. Barbara Gertman is also Owner of
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