I hadn't been able to go to summer camp for several years for a couple of reasons - we moved several times and I was having lots of seizures. It has seemed over the years that anything that makes me more tired (such as heat) would active my simple partial seizures. This summer was different.

My 2 boys went to scout camp with their troop. I volunteered to go along so the 11-year old could spend the whole week. It's the policy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that 11-year olds can't spend more than a couple days camping with the scouts unless accompanied by one of their parents. Since they belong to an LDS troop, I volunteered to go so that he could go to summer camp.

We had a really good time. I got to help the boys get to merit badge classes and sign up for additional classes as needed. I got to spend some time kyaking with one of my sons. Those things sure do tip over much easier than canoes.

Even though I'm not on any medications for seizures, I had no seizures all week and didn't even feel like I may have one coming along soon. Brain surgery has been a huge success for me. I had a right medial temporal lobectomy 7 months ago and am satisfied with the outcome. I'm looking forward to participating in even more hot summer activities.

Possibly the hardest part was spending a week with 14 boys, more than half of whom I had never met.  There were also leaders I had never met.  Since I had problems with facial recognition, made worse by brain surgery, I wasn't able to learn everybody's name and face.  I can remember names with some effort, but it does no good when I can't recognize the faces they go with.

Well it's been awhile since my brain surgery.  I had a right medial temporal lobectomy on December 19th 2012.  My last seizure prior to surgery was December 17th.  That all changed last week.

Happy 4th of July everyone.  I'm especially grateful to all who have served our great country in the armed services.  Thank-you for your service!

Things are still going great post-surgery.  It's been over 6 months now.  Still no seizures, so I am hopeful that I may never have them again.  The other day I worked in an area of the hospital that required me to wear an OR cap.  For those that don't know what that is, it's the blue cap that looks almost like a hair net.  It's held on by a small elastic band.  Wearing it gave me a headache, even though it's a very small, weak elastic band.  Strange how such a small amount of pressure can affect the area my skull was cut open.  It wasn't the worst headache in the world, so no big deal really.  The occasional small headache is much better than the frequent seizures I was having before brain surgery.