Since I am writing this for other mothers, I must be totally honest.
There are parts of Rose’s story that still make me weep.
To write this book, I have most of her medical records. Now that she is an adult, she must get some that are missing from our files. There are some gaps that need to be filled in.
We have thousands of pages and hundreds of films from scans. We have calendars and charts and spread sheets. We were desperate to keep every shred of information in case it held a clue to her cure.
I refer to these records before I write a story. I do not put in all the details. It would be cumbersome to read. I do not understand much of the terminology. It was a constant struggle to take in all the information.
Sometimes, when I read these pages in the records, it is like I am seeing it for the first time. I guess I just could not process everything while all the trauma was going on. I read from her last tests on Friday afternoon. I read them until I could not see through my tears. I had to walk away from the desk. It was like all the light left the room.
I bet you know what that’s like.
Rose is so brave. She marches straight toward the future with unwavering courage. I must be brave too. Not for me, but for you, Another Mother is your name.
I have to see this through for you. So I will keep going. You may need us.
So I will return to 2002 and 2012. I will finish what we have started. It gives us purpose. I promised Rose that I would write down her stories to share them. Her job now is to get on with her life. She is fearless, so I must be, too.
SEIZURE MAMA
Seizure Mama and Rose 