Witness - Elder Sister (aged 14)

When Hannah (my youngest sister, who is 10) most recently had a seizure, I was right next to her and witnessed it all. Hannah was sitting on the computer table with her feet on a revolving chair. In an outburst of giggles about something, she leant forwards and lost her balance. Hannah crashed to the floor, hitting her head on the table leg as she fell. Next, she sat up. I rushed over to her, hearing her announce "ow, that hurt!" as she entered the early daze before a fit.

Slowly, as she continued sitting on the floor, she put her head in her hands and bent over, crying. I asked her if she wanted to lie down, as I was aware of what could happen, but I received no answer. Abruptly, Hannah keeled over sideways and then, without warning, she involuntarily arched her back in a sudden, rigid movement. She remained stiffly arched backwards, and I could see her eyes rolling. She was unconscious of anyone or anything.

I shouted (slightly panicky, as I had never been so close before, to see her this clearly in such an unusual state) for my Dad to come from the next room. Hearing my tone of voice, he rushed in. He knelt down next to her, stroked her hair gently and asked me to explain what had happened. At last Hannah started to come round. She then sat up. The fit probably only lasted around 10 - 15 seconds, but seemed longer at the time.

"Have I just....? Did I just.......?" she asked, rather bewildered. We told her what had happened as she lay down again and began to cry with shock. After a while, we picked her up off the floor and carried her to the sofa where she could be made more comfortable. She likes to be covered with a blanket and for someone to stay with her. Mummy usually goes to her. She has always had RAS too, so understands how shocked, vulnerable and tired Hannah feels after a fit.

Over the next few days, Hannah was very quiet and clingy. She had a day or two off school to collect herself and get her confidence and energy back.

I am glad that I had been briefed and knew what to do beforehand, or I could have made things worse. I knew that it was really important
(a) that she should lie down, 
(b) to ensure she does not hurt herself during the seizure
(c) that she needs to stay lying down afterwards and
(d) to be there, calmly reassuring her as she comes round.

It is always shocking to observe a seizure, but she has always fully recovered on her own, given time.