Colin’s inspiring journey: Rising above epilepsy to pursue his dreams

In a world filled with hurdles and challenges, there are individuals who stand as shining examples of determination and resilience. Colin Candebat, an 18-year-old high school senior, is one of them.  

Despite his epilepsy diagnosis, Colin has beaten the odds to pursue his passion for swimming. He earned a spot on the swim team at Henderson State University where he will attend starting next fall. His journey serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, dreams can be achieved. 

The beginning of Colin’s journey 

Colin’s journey began at the age of 12 when he first received his epilepsy diagnosis. However, two years prior to that, he began displaying unusual symptoms that deeply concerned his mother.  

“He would day dream – you could literally talk to him and he wasn’t there – like his mind was somewhere else and he was completely detached from the world around him,” said Rebecca. “It lasted for a few seconds, and then suddenly, he would return to normal like nothing happened.” 

When Rebecca took her son in for his annual exam, she would bring up Colin’s behavior with his pediatrician, Dr. Reita Lawrence, who noted these concerns on Colin’s medical chart. During one of their visits, Dr. Lawrence, who had encountered a similar case, suggested Colin might have absence seizures, which involve brief, sudden lapses of consciousness during which a person may momentarily stare blankly into space and then abruptly return to an alert state.  

Dr. Lawrence ordered an electroencephalogram (EEG) and Dr. Daniella Miller, a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist at the Epilepsy Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, reviewed the study and determined that Colin had a diagnosis of juvenile absence epilepsy. She contacted Dr. Lawrence and arranged for Colin to be seen urgently to initiate treatment.  

“Managing seizures is a delicate balance that centers around medication, with a key emphasis on pinpointing the appropriate type and dosage of anti-seizure medication that is warranted,” explained Dr. Miller. “We customize a treatment that we hope controls seizures, while also trying to limit negative side effects that can occur as a result of the medications, thus leading to further limitations. Our goal is always to address each patient’s needs on an individual level, which includes educating on ways for patients to be safe even if a risk of seizures is present. This empowers our patients to regain control of their lives and helps them realize they can achieve great things even in the face of their epilepsy diagnosis. And that’s exactly what we did with Colin.”  

Struggling with epilepsy 

After being diagnosed at 12, Colin had to adapt to a new routine of taking his medications. 

“I had to set my alarm on my cell phone so I wouldn’t forget to take my anti-seizure medicine,” said Colin. “I took medications twice a day, every 12 hours, to reduce the frequency of my seizures.” 

There were two instances where Colin had convulsive seizures (previously known as grand mal seizures) – the kind of seizures where you stiffen or shake. One of these incidents happened during a long swim meet where Colin ended up missing his medication because the event ran longer than expected, which led to an unexpected trip to the emergency room. The other convulsive seizure occurred while playing a video game.  

While on medication, Colin experienced some relief, but his epilepsy posed significant challenges, particularly in school. The side effects of his medication caused temporary memory loss, making it  difficult for Colin to retain information. His brain just wasn’t accustomed to the medication at first. 

“Despite this struggle, Dr. Miller was very supportive,” said Rebecca. “She provided a note that allowed Colin to access accommodations, including an individualized education plan, granting him the extra time he needed because of the difficulties in retaining the knowledge he was acquiring. By the time he reached high school, Colin had been on his epilepsy medications for so long his memory had improved. He’s been on the honor role since freshman year. He’s overcome a lot.” 

Managing his seizure triggers 

Colin’s road to managing epilepsy was more than just taking medicine. In his case, hyperventilating could actually provoke seizures. He kept an eye on his breathing, all while following his treatment plan, to steer clear of anything that might set off seizures.  

“I found myself paying extra attention to my breathing, making sure it was slow and steady,” said Colin. “Rapid breathing, for instance, had the potential to trigger a seizure, making breath control a crucial part of my daily life. During my swim meets, we did a lot of heart rate and breath control training, which really helped me gain strong control over it. If I sensed my heart rate was spiking or my breathing was getting out of hand, I would pause for a moment to bring it back in line.” 

Thankfully, Colin’s epilepsy is well managed through medications and he has not required any additional interventions. “While it did take some adjustments to find the right dose, Dr. Miller managed to do just that. Colin hasn’t had a seizure in four years. He’s doing great and excelling,” said Rebecca.” 

Reaching his dream 

When Colin was diagnosed six years ago, his family initially questioned whether swimming could still be part of his life. However, Dr. Miller’s unwavering encouragement dispelled those doubts, affirming that competitive swimming was still within his reach. 

Colin’s love for swimming began at a young age, starting at six, but it wasn’t until about a year ago that he truly committed himself to the sport. He has been a dedicated member of a year-round swim team and his high school’s swim team. As he gears up for the next chapter of his life, Colin’s excitement is palpable. In the coming Fall, he will be diving into competitive swimming as a freshman at Henderson State University, pursuing a major in business administration and finance. 

“I’m incredibly thrilled to represent my college in the pool,” Colin expressed. “I owe a great deal to Dr. Miller. She always put my interests first and she made it possible for me to reach my dream.” 

For those facing epilepsy, Colin has this advice to offer: 

“Epilepsy isn’t a life-ending sentence; there’s always hope. My hope is that my story serves as an inspiration to young people showing them that they can still achieve their dreams and excel in competitive sports despite having epilepsy. I don’t let epilepsy limit what I am able to achieve.” 

For more information about the Epilepsy Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, visit our website at: Epilepsy Center | Children's Hospital New Orleans (chnola.org)