Durban North teen tells of uncertain future over undiagnosed condition

WHILE many matric learners are gaining more independence as they prepare to head off to university, Emma Hunt is never far from mother, Kate’s watchful eye ever since she mysteriously started to have seizures last year in August.

Nearly a year since her first trip to Addington Hospital and Emma is still not sure what is causing her seizures.

While she has yet to be diagnosed, the teen is taking two kinds of epilepsy medication to treat the seizures.

Now at her wit’s end, Kate is trying to raise the funds she needs to take Emma to a private doctor for a diagnosis.

“She wanted to go away to study fashion design in Cape Town, but until we have answers as to what is causing the seizures, we can’t take the risk. Emma’s lifestyle has changed. She’s 18 and I used to be able to leave her alone at our house if I was going out to the shops, but now that’s all changed. It feels like someone always has to be there with her, which she hates.

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“She can’t shower or bath when no one is around and she has to let someone know when she’s going to shower,” said Kate.

Being in the dark about what is causing the condition is taking its toll on the youngster.

“My future is very uncertain. It’s scary. After I have a seizure, I don’t know how to handle family members who are so concerned about me. Also I am always sacred of having another one or hurting myself when having a seizure,” she said.

The St Barnabas Independent School learner has also had to give up a favourite pastime in the pool and hang up her dreams for driving.

“She can’t swim anymore and she has to be seizure free for at least a year before she will be allowed to take her driving tests,” said Kate.

“She spent some time in Addington Hospital, but the only test they did was an X-ray of her chest. She was booked for a CT scan in December, 2018, but when we went for her appointment, we were told that the scanner was broken. We were then reffered to another hospital but have yet to be diagnosed,” she added.

Acting Head of the Department of Health, Dr Musa Gumede said: “The Department has periodically experienced breakdowns with its CT Scan at this particular facility. During such times, the hospital instituted repairs and worked on emergencies whereby prioritised patients were sent to nearby facilities. The department has a waiting list of patients who require the CT Scan service and this particular patient is also on that list. The hospital will however review the patient’s case to see if she cannot be prioritised. The department apologises for any inconvenience caused during this wait. The patient will then be scheduled for a new appointment accordingly.”

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Emma is having two to three seizures per month.

“It’s erratic. She has had two in two weeks recently, but then we had a week of nothing,” said Kate.

Taking epilepsy medication comes with a host of side-effects, said Emma.

“I get really really drowsy and I have trouble waking up. I space out- I can’t spell certain words I used to be able to spell. It also causes vomiting,” she said.

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