UNDETECTED SILENT SEIZURES: A NEWBORN SON’S FIGHT IN THE NICU

Andalusia and Charles Mesa welcomed their first baby, Caper, after a full-term pregnancy, expecting a healthy start to family life. But shortly after birth, he was rushed to the NICU when he struggled to breathe and keep his vital signs stable.

As his parents stayed by his side around the clock, doctors eventually discovered through an EEG that Caper was experiencing hundreds of episodes every day, many of them difficult to recognize.

It was an overwhelming shock for the new parents, who had been watching their tiny infant closely without realizing the silent struggle occurring within his brain. These neurological events, subtle and easily missed without specialized monitoring equipment, were constantly disrupting his vital functions and threatening his delicate health. The medical team immediately began working to identify the underlying cause and stabilize his condition.

For Andalusia and Charles, the NICU became a place of agonizing uncertainty, where every monitor beep and test result carried tremendous weight. Despite the fear and confusion surrounding their newborn’s diagnosis, they remained steadfast at his bedside, advocating for their son as doctors searched for answers and a way forward.