Columns

Although my 11-year-old son, little Brian, has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and is nonverbal, he lives and behaves like a royal prince. His home is his kingdom, and with me as his personal bodyguard, we march around the premises all day. After much meandering, I can tell when hunger sets in…

As I sit in rush-hour traffic, a hot Florida sun beams brightly through my windshield. Drivers around me jostle for position, frantically trying to shave off a few seconds of commute time. A cacophony of rumbling cars, beeping horns, and chattering sports radio fills my ears like nails on a…

As humans, and especially as caregivers, we do not give ourselves enough credit. It’s a widely accepted expectation that we should always strive to do better. I don’t necessarily disagree with that sentiment, as without direction or goals in life, how are we to be successful? With Lennox-Gastaut syndrome…

Little Brian is awesome. As I take this time to reflect on the totality of the life that currently exists for me, I struggle to maintain a positive outlook. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) has completely upended the plans I had for my family. My entire upbringing consisted of compiling good choices…

No matter how cliché it sounds, if there’s anything I can get across as a Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) caregiver, it’s that the experience is truly an emotional roller coaster. At the time of writing my previous column about signing off, I was at one of the lowest lows on…

It’s good to be back and writing again. My last column was posted over a month ago, before the winter holidays. I wish I could say the entirety of my time away was spent in merriment and relaxation. Alas, I am a Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) caregiver and parent. Seizures and…

As we packed into the car, our daughter, Coralynn, was excited. The holidays were firmly behind us, and today was the first day of the local recreation center’s basketball season. Coralynn hadn’t played on a team since the fall, and she was ready to show off her skills. This…

“What should I get Brian for Christmas?” It’s a question I get every year, but as the years have passed, it’s become increasingly difficult to answer. I used to be able to say airplane or dinosaur toys, which he once loved. Unfortunately, his seizures have taken such a toll…

As I approach the reception desk, my heart is beating quickly. My forehead muscles are tense from the prolonged furrowing of eyebrows. People are crazy drivers, and any safe arrival to a distant destination should always be appreciated. I check in, stating the patient’s name: “Brian Solka.” Growing up, my…

Thanksgiving just passed, and I’m back to work after a peaceful week off. On Sunday, I experienced a real case of the pre-workweek blues, and I can’t seem to pick myself up out of this funk. This time of year is normally stressful for a teacher, given both the excitement…