Seizure makes death sound like epilepsy

The death of child has to be an unthinkable and almost unbearable experience. The recent death of Jett Travolta makes us all wonder how we would handle such a tragedy. It has been reported that he died from a seizure and that he had experienced seizures through out his young life.

A history of seizures is a polite way of avoiding the term epilepsy. Epilepsy is very much a stigmatized disease in our society. The second tragedy associated with this death is the inability to call what happened what it is - epilepsy. Failing to do so perpetuates the stigma.

If any good can come from this unspeakable loss it would be for Jett's parents to speak out for the need to aid children and adults who have this horrific disease.

William J. Filstead

Arlington Heights