Hello and Welcome!

Let me introduce myself - my name is Lauren.  I am a wife, a mother of two, an advocate, and most recently a Director on the Epilepsy Canada Board.

My son Wyatt started to have unprovoked seizures shortly after his 4th birthday. He was active, meeting developmental milestones, social, a very chatty little boy without a worry in the world and then… epilepsy. 

Wyatt is the sweetest, strongest, bravest boy I know. It’s amazing what our kids can teach us, and boy, this little guy has taught me more than I ever thought. I’m so lucky to call this wonderful wonderous boy ours❤️

Epilepsy has brought us to our knees… tears, sleepless nights, advocating and more tears.

I have so many supportive friends and family members and I’m so grateful for that, but what I often mask is the struggle. If I called on a friend every time Wyatt had a seizure, I would have called them 134 times in the last 2 months: sad, defeated, deflated, exhausted. For so long, I kept that inside, because it was just easier. It’s easier to be what I want to be. Which is why I hid when things got really hard, I needed the time to build up the strength again to come back to life.

What I’ve realized is that I need to be kinder to myself… and that getting involved and sharing my story has become my fuel for hope.

Epilepsy was the start of the most difficult journey we have ever been on. Our lives changed in an instant. When you feel like you’re drowning in life, you try to find life preservers, people, books, groups, organizations. This is when I became familiar with Epilepsy Canada. While I had no control over Wyatt’s seizures, what I did have control over was how I could be something bigger. Getting involved with Epilepsy Canada has become my fuel for hope, it’s something that could one day help change his life in a positive way - funding research for a cure.

In August 2022 we started our keto Journey in an effort to fight for seizure relief.

What is keto? The Ketogenic diet its a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, adequate protein diet that can be used to treat difficult-to-control seizures. The human body uses mostly carbohydrates for energy. When carbohydrates are not available for energy, the body can use fat for energy instead. The breakdown of fat for energy produces a waste product called “ketones.” The state of ketosis is often associated with improved seizure control.

The ketogenic diet resets how your body uses food. Usually, carbohydrates in your diet (like sugars and starches) provide most of the energy. The keto diet lowers the amount of carbs you eat and teaches your body to burn fat for energy instead.

I started this blog and my Instagram account for anyone who is affected by epilepsy, a place to feel understood and seen. I also wanted to share our experience with keto. To write for anyone who is thinking about starting keto as a treatment or even as a reference for friends and family to learn more.

I hope you’ll follow along here and connect with me on Instagram @ketokiddojourney