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“The S.E.E. program changed me from a victim to a volunteer.” Linda Warner, Past President of the Epilepsy Foundation [of America.]
“It's funny, it's touching, it's entertaining, but most of all it is immensely empowering.” Jan McDaniel.
“For years I have been very careful about my treatment, so I was stunned to find out that I was doing things that could cause seizures. Thanks to S.E.E. I haven’t had a seizure in months.” Patrick Mason
“I was stunned to realize all that I did not know. Dr. Mittan spoke for two straight days, yet kept his audience captive with his humor, knowledge, and storytelling abilities. I found the conference simply phenomenal.” Eileen Krapf.
“I'm not scared anymore. I'm grateful beyond what words can express.” Jason Grote, person with epilepsy.
“This seminar showed me that I could live a normal life.” Bishop Paul Butterfield.
I attended your conference in Charlotte. I have a 4-year-old multi-handicapped boy with Lennox-Gastaut [a severe form of epilepsy with several kinds of seizures.] Since your seminar, we have obtained the best seizure control since birth! He used to have 20 per day, now we are down to 5 that are unrecognizable to the public they are so small. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have a client (I'm a Physical Therapist) who has the same syndrome…With some advice I gave her mom from my knowledge gained at the SEE seminar, she also has the best seizure control she's had in six years. You are very appreciated. I would love to attend again. I think going through the seminar again would help cement the ideas in my head. I look at the info all the time. Anyway, good to hear you're coming back. I have several clients I will send to you. Kelly and Jackson West
Dr. Mittan, I received your email and will forward information on to as many people as I can. As a personal testimony, the last time I attended the SEE program here in Hickory, my daughter was on as many as four different drugs to control her seizures, had the VNS Implant and was also on the Keto diet. We were having extremely poor seizure control. Reluctantly, I began thinking about the Lamictal/Depakote combo [you discussed in the program.] We are now having great success! No seizures in several months and we have weaned my daughter down to three drugs, and are in process of getting her off one more. Since we have such good seizure control we are now weaning her off that !&**!! [Ketogenic] diet too. So far, so good. I am so glad I went to the SEE Program. It has been trial and error, but I was much more open to trying Depakote than before. The education I received at the SEE Program was invaluable. I think we are about to return to a much more normal life than we have had in quite some time. Thanks, Shelly Barnes
My husband and I went to the seminar 10 years ago. We spent around $100. That $100.00 probably saved us over $50,000 in medical expenses. In one year after the onset of our daughter’s epilepsy we had already spent over $100,000 on medical expenses, travel and such. But after attending the S.E.E seminar we applied the education we received. We now knew about the medical attention, new drugs, and testing programs we needed to get 100% seizure control. We went from 45 minute generalized tonic-clonic (Grand Mal) seizures to no seizures at all. This program is a must for all health care, daycare, nurses, doctors and most importantly patients and their families. Thank you Dr. Mittan for your WONDERFUL S.E.E Seminar. And thank you for putting the money back in our pockets. We have 5 children and it's so nice to be able to invest it in their lives and futures instead of the medical profession. Robin Riveland
A Quick Thank you! We did already have a blood-level test and a phone appointment, scheduled for the 19th (Mon.AFTER THE St.Paul SEMINAR). Because of the information that we did learn, at your S.E.E. seminar, we did a Monday morning "trough" blood level (i.e.: prior to our daughters' morning AED's). NEVER in 3 yrs, had we been asked to do that type of level, NOR WERE WE ever TOLD of the importance of it. And AFTER WEEKS OF TELLING OUR DOCTORS that she was sick, and showing toxic signs—and (I'm a 24/7 mom) that her seizures were more frequent, an that I felt it was because of the AED's...* the S.E.E. seminar armed * us with the information and knowledge that we needed, to let us be better partners with our Child's Doctors. The Clinic phoned us back this afternoon, and said to go down on the Dilantin dose! She was toxic! The extra drug they'd added had perhaps spiked that level. (DUH)! Had we not had known of the "trough", or how the AED med's worked, I still would have been, "just a mom who knew something was wrong"....It did take the real exact #'s, of those ways, to show the Doctors! Thank you for that difference. I do know that everyone at this seminar came away with helpful information. I am a Mom, who is telling you that your information did make a "very next day" difference for our daughter! That is alone, a very good reason of why the S.E.E. seminar should be supported by the insurance companies! YOU SAVED US! Write a book! We would have bought even a pamphlet, had you had one. Get going! You do already have the most of it...copy your seminar to a great point. We parents do need this education. I'm the mom who did the booklet for our daughters' classroom, as she wore the ambulatory EEG to school. I do believe that information and education is the way to go. Frances & Greg Anderson
It was so full of information and helped dispel a number of myths about seizures. The “technical” information is so helpful – just enough to aid in understanding – things about meds I wish I had known years ago. It was so well organized and you did an excellent job of keeping my attention and keeping the program moving. I totally feel enabled!! You were awesome Dr. Bob! Your presentation was so good – you obviously are passionate about what you do! Your humor and knowledge and speaking abilities are so complimentary – such good sense too! Thank you so much for giving me the knowledge I was lacking – I feel much more confident and able to ask intelligent questions and respond better. I’m hoping my boys will benefit from this knowledge. Don’t change a thing! It was incredible! Thank you so much again! Unsigned note from Nebraska Participant and mother of two sons with severe childhood epilepsy
One day as I sat in the waiting room of my daughter’s neurologist, my head hit something and I turned around to see what it was. It happened to be a group of fliers for a seminar that was to be held at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. I read on and the name of the seminar was “S.E.E.” The front of the pamphlet said, “Open your mind and S.E.E.” So I opened it and I read about this seminar. It was to take place over a whole weekend. Wow I said to myself, a whole weekend, can I afford to spend a whole weekend listening to someone talk? Well I read on and learned that S.E.E. meant Seizures & Epilepsy Education. Well that meant a lot to me at the time as my 6-year-old daughter who already had cerebral palsy was recently diagnosed with seizures (epilepsy) in May of this year. Well, I wasn’t real familiar with seizures and wanting to know more I decided to take the time and see what S.E.E. was about. The time came for this weekend and I drove the 2 ½ hours to make it to Wilmington from my small town in southern Delaware. Boy was it worth it. The lecturer was a man by the name of Dr. Mittan. He is a neuropsychologist and he knows a thing or two about epilepsy. Being a nurse I have sat through a few lectures in my day, but nothing like this. Not only did I learn I had a lot of misconceptions about seizures, but I learned that a lot of what I was feeling was normal. I need now say a few things about Dr. Mittan. He made the entire weekend interesting, upbeat, and inspiring to say the least. He had many personal stories which made it easier to understand as he could bring what was in the lecture on a personal level. The way in which he spoke was enlightening. He made it easy to listen to and understand. I guess he had perfected this technique as he’s been doing it for a long time, over 25 years if I remember correctly. His concern for people with epilepsy and those who have loved ones with it made his passion for teaching us about it evident. He made sure everyone in that lecture hall understood what he was saying. And as I sat in that room I met other people in the same boat as me. We chatted and learned from each other. It was the best two days that I spent learning anything in a long time. I had some questions for the Dr. and since there was so much material and information for him to give us he only took questions when he wasn’t speaking. The last night of the seminar I waited patiently after everyone left to ask what I needed. Dr. Mittan stayed until all my questions were answered. I left that night with a better understanding of what my husband and I would be facing in the years to come. Dr. Mittan gave me the knowledge to make sure my daughter was on the right track with her treatment. I went home and told my husband next time the opportunity came he really needed to go and sit in on this incredible seminar. I myself will go again when he comes around Delaware again. It was a small price to pay for the information and confidence to help my child live with epilepsy. My suggestion to anyone with epilepsy or the parent, sister, brother, husband, wife of someone with it to go and hear what he has to say. It may change your life; you may find you don’t have this kind of seizure, you have a different kind, as there are many, and what kind you have will determine the right medication you need to help control your seizures. There are new medicines and tests coming out all the time. Do yourself or your loved one a favor and go, learn and be amazed. It is well worth the time. I actually wish it were 3 days; I would stay for 3 days, yes indeed I would. Thank you Dr. Mittan for having the gift to help my family and me. You are truly a gifted man and I am grateful that you do what you do. Michelle Vickers, Daughter, Miranda
The amount of detail was GREAT! The explanation of all the different types of seizures is a huge help. With this information, I now feel like I can have an intelligent conversation with the doctor instead of just saying “OK” while a doctor talks. The fact that it is taught in English, not medical terms that are not explained. I am leaving today knowing 1000% more than when I came here. Anonymous program evaluation
Dr. Mittan: I want to let you know what great benefit I and my son derived from your program. After traveling all the way from the East Coast [Boston] to join my son in Spokane [WA] for your program, I can say that my effort was not misplaced but rewarded - certainly worth every mile and every hour spent in the program itself. I have been to many epilepsy programs, seminars, and sessions but your 2-day program delivers more, with more clarity, more valuable detail, and more valuable take-away messages for patients and caretakers alike than any other. I'll certainly be recommending and suggesting the SEE program to people in my area. Dr. Mark F. Taylor
I was a participant in the SEE presentation at BCIT in Vancouver, BC. The program was absolutely phenomenal - finally, ever since my first seizure in 2001, I feel like I actually understand what it's all about. I feel I've now got a grasp on what exactly has happened whenever I open my eyes and find myself on a stretcher in the ER with a splitting headache and my wife crying beside me. Dr. Mittan is an unbelievable presenter with a fantastic talent for translating all the epilepsy garble into layman's terms for anyone to understand... and when he said that he "would stay afterwards until every question is answered", he astounded me. Dr. Mittan's sincerity and humor shine through in his presentations, and I would recommend him highly. Thank you Dr. Mittan for coming to Vancouver and speaking. I came out from Regina, Saskatchewan to hear you speak - and it was well worth the trip (1750 K, 1100 mi.) You are a great speaker, and I hope you continue to do what you are doing because it means the world to people like me. Rob Beatty
Dear Dr. Mittan, I just attended your seminar this past weekend and feel the need to thank you for such a wonderful, supportive and helpful program. I especially am grateful for the information on medications and how they actually affect the body. Your explanation of how the brain forms in the womb was extremely helpful to me. Most particularly, I have to say that your part on Epilepsy and the Family touched me greatly. You may not remember meeting us, but my husband and I approached you regarding our son\'s hemispherectomy. I have to say that this is the first time in 10 years that I feel that someone actually cares about the way parents, and especially mothers, are coping in situations like these. I personally have gone, as you mentioned in your program, from scrutinizing my every actions during pregnancy - could it be the one glass of wine I took during the first month when I didn't know I was pregnant to maybe it was that cup of coffee I took once as a treat; to feeling as you said \'guilty\' and \'responsible\'; to overprotecting my son; to continuously debating our decision of having gone through with the hemispherectomy; to why didn’t we try the ketogenic diet; to wondering if maybe the doctors didn't use the right method of treating the seizures, and it goes on and on and on. You are probably guessing by now that I have been suffering from depression with this type of thinking for a very long time. Thank you so much for helping me understand that my feelings are normal, that I need to \'accept\' the situation and move on and help our son develop to the best of his ability. I now realize that although my goal has always been to build self-confidence in our son, I am actually working against that goal by overprotecting him. Thank you again. You cannot imagine how much you have helped. (name withheld by request)
This program was absolutely wonderful. Our son is talking about "getting better," making plans for the future, discussing how to maintain his medication levels - - a whole new feeling of empowerment and hope. For us, we finally feel we have some idea of what is happening, what he means by "auras" and how we can best support his return to a really positive life. In fact it's not a "return" as we feel that he has probably been having unrecognized seizures since childhood. So what we are talking about is a whole new life. Interestingly the best support he has had in the past is from Dr. Harvey Henderson, a family doctor way "up-island" who is a self-acknowledged non-expert, but a wonderful listener and observer. I have emailed him strongly, strongly recommending that he inform his otherepilepsy patients and their families about your session in Vancouver. Thank you again, thank you, thank you, Vanessa Hammond
Thank you so much! I attended the S.E.E. program and I now have hope again, and most importantly, goals and plans as to how I hope to make a difference in our family's life. Our youngest daughter has had difficult to control seizures for two years and has had frequent bouts of long status epilepticus. I was at the end of hope, but as you say, I was just at the end of my knowledge. I am beginning to work on three levels (lifestyle at home, drug changes, and pursuing the best scans to find out if she is a candidate for surgery) to make things better. I even have a number of different ideas on what to try next if my first changes don't help enough. Thank you so much for giving us the knowledge to begin hoping again. Mary McDonald
Following email is sent to you from S.E.E Website:
We attended the SEE Program in Houston, TX this past weekend and it was a constant source of invaluable information. My husband and I were at different levels in our understanding of the epilepsy. I work with children with seizures as well as reading research on epilepsy, whereas my husband learns more through lecture rather than reading. The information was so beneficial to us. I really thought I knew most of the current information out there on this disorder, but there was plenty more to learn! Dr Mittan was a stimulating speaker who is clearly an expert in his field. Some of the information was reinforcing to us as we already see an epileptologist for our daughter. The information reinforced the good quality care we are getting; however, we gained greater knowledge & understanding. Thank you so much for all the information you shared with us. Your information is invaluable to us. We are going to enable our 12 year old to control her own seizures. We’ve been looking for ways to do this and your presentation gave us the tools we need! Our life will be greatly improved. We have been learning about this for two years, but learned so much more this weekend. Our mind is open & we see!!!! Thanks so much – it was a privilege. ! Jonathan & Linda Ledwig, parents of a child with epilepsy.
Thank you so much for helping people with epilepsy find their way. Your S.E.E. program was so informative. It truly was everything the literature stated it would be. I learned more in the first day of the program than all of the doctor visits and seminars I’ve attended in the past seven years. I really needed this information seven years ago. Please write a book! I feel so empowered now with my new and complete understanding of epilepsy. I will forever be grateful to you and never forget what your program has done for my family! Karen Miller, mother of a child with epilepsy
Subject: Amazing results since attending your seminar. Dear Dr. Mittan, I attended one of your seminars last Fall. Because of the information I learned in your seminar, I realized that my son was having more than one type of seizure. Using the observation techniques you taught us, I was able to properly describe what my son was experiencing to our doctor. After many trials and tests, my son now has a Vagal Nerve Stimulator that COMPLETELY controls two of his three seizure types! We may have other surgeries in our future, but thanks to you and the information you shared, I am not afraid of the surgeries or the epilepsy. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Sharon Williams
I normally do not communicate with individuals who make me cry but you are an exception to the rule. I just wanted to take a moment and say Thank You very much. Your presentation last weekend provided me with more information than I have gathered in twelve years and a half dozen or so neurologists. Again Thank You, very much, these are tears of joy. Stan Hatfield, Portland, OR
“I wish I could have seen this program twenty years ago. It would have saved us a lot of heartache.” Tricia Bergeron.
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