Chance’s epilepsy journey: How Children’s Hospital New Orleans helped him reclaim his life

When Natasha Mitchell first noticed her son Chance daydreaming frequently, she didn't realize that these moments were absence seizures, a type of seizure that causes you to stare blankly into space for a few seconds at a time. He was around nine or ten years old when these seizures began, and like many parents, Natasha and her husband, Lester, initially dismissed it as nothing to worry about.  

"Chance would just stare off into space, and I thought he was simply daydreaming," Natasha said. "But when I began working in a neurology office, I realized this wasn’t daydreaming—it was happening far too often." 

Concerned about her son's behavior, Natasha took him to his pediatrician, who referred them to a pediatric neurologist. During the consultation, an EEG was conducted, revealing spikes in his brain waves which can be a marker of epilepsy. 

In January 2020, Chance had his first convulsive seizure at home. Lester discovered him unresponsive on the bathroom floor after hearing a loud thump. The paramedics were called, and Chance was rushed to the ER, where doctors confirmed he had experienced a seizure.  

For nearly two years before their journey led them to Children’s Hospital New Orleans, Chance was under the care of a pediatric neurologist who prescribed various medications to control his seizures. Despite being on multiple medications, the seizures persisted.  

“Chance would have two or three seizures a day, and I felt helpless,” said Natasha. “His seizures would last for six seconds. His neurologist just kept adding more medications every time he had a seizure.” 

Chance’s condition made it impossible for him to continue playing the sports he loved, like AAU football and basketball. "It was heartbreaking. Everything he knew, his normal routine, was suddenly taken away," Natasha recalled. As the seizures became more frequent, Chance was homeschooled to ensure his safety, and his parents remained on high alert, especially during the night. "We had to constantly monitor him because we never knew when a seizure would occur. We were on edge," she admitted. 

During one of Chance's hospital stays, several nurses asked Natasha if she’d consider taking him to Children's Hospital New Orleans. They mentioned the hospital's highly regarded pediatric neurology program, and Natasha’s curiosity was piqued. After discussing it with the pediatrician, she was reassured it was a great option. In April 2020, Chance’s parents made the decision to transfer his care to Daniella Miller, MD a neurologist and epileptologist at Children’s Hospital. That decision, she says, "completely changed our lives." 

When the family met Dr. Miller, Chance was on six different medications. Dr. Miller reviewed his previous medical records and asked Natasha if Chance had ever received a formal diagnosis. He had never been officially diagnosed with epilepsy until he met Dr. Miller, despite the years of seizures and medication.  

Dr. Miller’s treatment plan was different from what Chance had experienced before. Instead of simply adding medications, she focused on titrating—gradually adjusting the dosage of each drug to find the most effective combination with the fewest side effects. One of the medications Dr. Miller decided to revisit was Lamictal, a medication Chance had been on previously but was taken off due to severe side effects, including a rash. 

"When Dr. Miller asked if he had been titrated on Lamictal, I told her no, the previous doctor just increased the dose rapidly," Natasha explained. “Dr. Miller suggested we try again, this time slowly increasing the dosage to minimize side effects. I trusted her. I told her to do whatever she thought was best.” 

Before Dr. Miller took over Chance’s epilepsy care, he had been on an anti-seizure medication that caused pancreatitis, requiring fluid treatment to clear it from his system. Recognizing the serious side effect, Dr. Miller promptly removed that medication from his treatment plan. 

Over the course of several months, Dr. Miller carefully adjusted Chance's medication. By November 2020, she had successfully reduced his regimen from six medications to just two: Lamictal and another anti-seizure medication. The results were remarkable. "Since November 4, 2020, Chance has not had a single seizure," Natasha proudly shared. After years of struggle, Chance was finally seizure-free. 

Today, at 16 years old, Chance has been seizure-free for four years. He takes only two medications, and he takes them like clockwork, staying on top of his schedule with impressive responsibility. His most recent EEGs have shown no signs of seizure activity, and he continues to see Dr. Miller every six months for follow-up care. "She is truly a blessing," said Natasha. "I wish we had found her sooner." 

Chance's journey has been long and challenging, but Natasha’s faith and determination, along with the expert care from Dr. Miller and the team at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, have brought him to a place of healing. "The hardest thing in life is not being able to help your child," Natasha reflected. "But we never gave up. We kept the faith, and now, we’re here. Chance is living a normal life again." 

Now that Chance is seizure-free, he is wholeheartedly embracing the activities he loves. As a junior in high school, he can drive, play basketball, and spend quality time with his friends and brother, truly living life to the fullest. With four years of being seizure-free and counting, Chance even took a school field trip to Houston, and his parents felt completely at ease with him traveling to another state. “Will we ever be worry-free? No,” Natasha admitted, “but it’s not something that consumes us anymore. He can live a normal life, and so can we. Having this sense of normalcy has been transformative for our family.” 

For families facing similar challenges with epilepsy, Natasha offers this advice:  

“Don’t stop searching for answers. I did a lot of research. I joined support groups with other families who had children battling epilepsy which helped me feel less alone. It reminded me that there’s always hope.” 
 
For more information on the Neurology program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, visit 
Neurology | Children's Hospital New Orleans (chnola.org)