Our journey with Aditya began with hope and joy, but it soon took a turn we could never have imagined. At just five months old, he was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms—a rare and devastating form of epilepsy. What started as subtle head bobs quickly escalated into terrifying clusters of jackknife seizures. When we first rushed to the ER, desperate for answers, we were dismissed because the seizures weren’t visible at that moment. Deep down, I knew something was terribly wrong.
After fighting for him, we were finally transferred to a children’s hospital, where our worst fears were confirmed within 24 hours. Aditya was started on high-dose steroids and vigadrone, and miraculously, the seizures stopped within a day. But soon, we faced an eerie silence in his development. He wasn’t rolling over, crawling, or making eye contact. Each missed milestone became a painful reminder of what he was missing. I spent sleepless nights consulting specialists, preparing for a life with a medically complex child, and grieving the milestones that felt increasingly out of reach.
Gene testing offered no answers, and with every follow-up EEG showing excessive background slowing, my heart broke a little more. I felt helpless, as if I were watching my baby slip away from the life he deserved.
Then, through a podcast featuring Jim Abrahams and Kelly Cervantes on Cure Epilepsy, I learned about the ketogenic diet. It felt like a lifeline. Dr. Douglas Nordli encouraged us to try the diet, suspecting vigadrone toxicity. We were admitted to Lurie Children’s Hospital, surrounded by an incredible team of nutritionists, social workers, and neurologists who helped us start the diet. But it wasn’t easy. The formulas made him sick—first with acidic diarrhea, then with severe constipation. I was on the verge of giving up, devastated that this last hope might fail too.
In a moment of desperation, I remembered a video I had seen years ago of Nancy feeding her son Charlie heavy cream. We decided to switch Aditya to a simple, traditional recipe of milk and cream. The results were nothing short of miraculous. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, Aditya began to change. He started to move, roll over, and crawl. With each passing day, he reached more milestones—first physical, then cognitive. It felt like he was waking up from a fog we had been trapped in for so long.
Since May 2023, Aditya has been on this diet, and our world has transformed. He is now a healthy, vibrant 2-year-old, full of life, energy, and curiosity. He’s meeting every milestone we once thought might never come, even starting to talk a few months ago. His laughter and energy fill our home, and he chases squirrels and bunnies in the backyard, plays joyfully with his sister, and loves snuggling with his dad.
For us, “cure” means not having to worry about a seizure on any given day. The ketogenic diet didn’t just save Aditya—it gave him the chance to live the life he deserves. It gave us back our son. We are eternally grateful to the Charlie Foundation, the Cure Epilepsy podcasts, and everyone who supported us through this journey.
Aditya’s story is one of magic, hope, and a second chance at life. We are filled with gratitude for every milestone he reaches and the joyful moments we share as a family.