Fugett Middle School Students DOMinate Epilepsy
Students at Fugett Middle School recently presented a check for over $500 to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for epilepsy research. Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures.
To raise money and awareness for epilepsy research, members of Fugett Student Council sold "FMS DOMinates Epilepsy" wristbands and purple ribbons during November, which is Epilepsy Awareness Month.
CHOP representative, Ellie Paparone, stopped by the school on December 10 to meet with students and collect the donation.
"FMS DOMinates Epilepsy" was inspired by 4-year-old Dominic "DOMinator" Rosini, the grandson of Elizabeth Scolis, a special education teacher at Fugett Middle School. Dominic suffers from Doose Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy.
"Even though Dominic's condition is rare, epilepsy is not," says Scolis. 
"When he had his first seizure, our lives changed dramatically. Dominic had to endure eight ambulance rides, one helicopter ride, and 11 hospital stays all within the first year of receiving his diagnosis. He is our little warrior!"
Epilepsy affects everyone differently. Scolis says her grandson's motor skills have been impacted as a result of his seizures. Dominic receives occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and hippotherapy, which is the use of horseback riding to improve coordination, balance, and strength.
Dominic doesn't let his condition stop him from enjoying life. He loves playing with his dinosaur toys and learning about the prehistoric creatures. He also loves farm animals, especially horses, and likes puzzles and sticker books.
Jessica Rosini, Dominic's mother, attended the check presentation with her son and thanked the students for educating and advocating for those battling epilepsy.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 1 in 26 people in the United States will have epilepsy at some point in their life. 1 in 10 Americans will have a seizure, and about 22,000 to 42,000 deaths in the United States occur each year from seizure emergencies.
8th-Grade Student Council Members Riley Galt (left), Molly Smeins, Lizzie Lynch, and Chloe Province
