Leeds family's heartache as teenage son with epilepsy can no longer speak or walk
A MOTHER from Leeds has told of her family's heartache as her 17-year-old son battles a severe form of epilepsy.
Kian Shine, of Harehills, was a fit and healthy toddler until he suffered a sudden and unexpected seizure when he was three-years-old. Kian, who suffers from a severe form of epilepsy called Doose Syndrome, suffered continuous seizures and at one stage had multiple seizures a day when he was aged six. Mother-of-six Louise Shine said Kian’s health has deteriorated. He can no longer speak, is fed through a tube in his stomach and relies on a wheelchair as his mobility is very limited. Mrs Shine, 37, who has five more children aged 21-months to 19-years-old, said: “Life is very difficult. I don’t work, I have been a full-time carer for Kian. since he was three.
“My husband is a self-employed electrician but he has to spend a lot of time at home. “The other children don’t get as much time and attention as they should be getting and it is very stressful sometimes.” Ms Shine added: “He was perfectly healthy up until he was three-years-old. “He had a massive seizure at his nursery. He was found after having quite a violent seizure.
It was completely out of the blue. He has had quite a lot of injuries over the years because of ‘drop attack’ seizures where he just crumbles.”
Mrs Shine, who married Kian’s stepfather Michael, 36, in July 2016, has five other children: Kirt, 19; Oliver, 14; Logan, 12; Rochelle, nine and 21-month-old Chase.
She said: “My eldest Kirt helps me a lot to care for Kian, he is amazing. Everyone mucks in to help if I’m busy with Kian.”
Mrs Shine added: “When Kian is not feeling down he laughs a lot and he has got an amazing smile.”