Care & Cure: Epilepsy Foundation Dinner

Camille’s friends, Ari and Chloe, served as the inspiration for this year’s Care and Cure dinner held on Tuesday, June 5th. The Care and Cure event, a benefit to end epilepsy in children, was launched in 2006 by Camille’s parents with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. Through the stewardship of Ari and Chloe’s fathers, the event makes an even greater impact today. Because of the commitment of Epilepsy Foundation staff, volunteers, and donors the event has raised over $4.5 million to-date to increase access to specialty care and provide much needed services in our community.

Hollywood producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, was honored this year for his devotion to, and generous support of, the Epilepsy Foundation. He has produced dozens of films, including the highly successful Transformers franchise.

Our dear friend and advocate, Ann Kinkor, was also honored for her work as Epilepsy California’s statewide advocacy director. Because of Ann’s tireless leadership and the support of Foundation staff, volunteers and state elected officials, Senate Bill 161 was signed into law on October 7, 2011.

To watch The Care and Cure event video, click here.

SB 161: Diastat

California Senate Bill 161 authorizes schools to allow volunteer, non-medical staff to administer an emergency anti-seizure drug (Diastat) in the event a student suffers status epilepticus - a life-threatening epileptic seizure - at school. Students with a doctor’s prescription for this medication generally must have it administered within five minutes which is sooner than most paramedics can arrive. The timing is critical as children can suffer permanent brain damage and even death from status epilepticus.

Diastat® is a FDA approved medication that has been on the market for more than 10 years for use by lay people and families with a prescription and simple instructions. No medical or professional training is required. The availability of Diastat has saved lives and allowed children to attend school. The FDA, national physician organizations and medical experts in the treatment of epilepsy resoundingly support the use of Diastat by non-professionals.