Jaylen Evans

Severe Seizure Part 2

Lena PoV
The machines never stopped. That steady beep. That blinking line. That hush of the oxygen flow through the tube at his nose. Even in the quiet, it was loud. I'd been watching it for hours. Holding Jaylen's hand, counting the seconds between his breath and the next flicker on the monitor. The nurses came and went. Charting. Whispering. Drawing more blood. The neuro team ordered another EEG. They wheeled in the machine and placed the sticky leads on his scalp while he dozed under sedation. I helped hold his shoulder when he twitched. They told me it wouldn't hurt. I nodded but I didn't move from his side.

Nurse: We'll run this for about 40 minutes. Just to see what's still going on inside
Lena: Still?
Nurse: There's concern he may be having non-convulsive seizures. No shaking but electrical activity in the brain. We'll know soon
I looked at Jaylen. At his his pale face, the faint bruise on his temple, the dried tear streaks he'd never remember. He wasn't seizing anymore. Not the way most people understood it. But he wasn't really there either. The EEG tech adjusted the leads.
EEG Tech: Okay, we're picking up some intermittent spikes. Frequent discharges. Definitely still some seizure activity
Lena: Even now?
Tech: Yes. It's subtle but it's happening
I rubbed my hands together. They were cold even though the room wasn't.
Lena: Do I need to prepare for another big one?
Tech: We can't predict that, I'm afraid but this does confirm he's still not neurologically stable. It helps the doctors know how aggressive to be with medication

An hour later, Jaylen's epilepsy nurse came in. Naomi. She'd been with us since his first hospital stay when he moved here. She pulled up a stool beside me and opened her notes.
Naomi: So. His EEG shows ongoing seizure activity. Not outwardly obvious but his brain's still firing in that abnormal pattern
Lena: He's not coming out of it?
Naomi: Not fully. That's why he's so drowsy and slow to respond. We're going to adjust his medication plan. Increase his levetiracetam to the upper end of therapeutic range
Lena: Okay. And that's safe?
Naomi: We'll monitor him closely. He metabolizes it fast, so we think he's outpacing the dose. Also his neuro has decided to add a second med: clobazam. A benzo-based anti-epileptic. It should help control these electrical flares
Lena: Side effects?
She gave me a look. The kind you give before delivering news you know won't land gently.
Naomi: Sleepiness. Slower processing. And likely at least during the adjustment period more irritability. Maybe aggression. Mood swings
I stared at Jaylen's face. He looked so still. So soft. But I knew that was borrowed peace.
Lena: He already struggles with emotional regulation
Naomi: i know. It's a balancing act. But uncontrolled seizures are far more dangerous. This buys us time. Safety
I nodded. I didn't like it. But I trusted her.

Jaylen stirred later that afternoon. I saw it before the machines caught it. The flick of his fingers. A shift in his breathing. Then a groan.
Jaylen (slurred): Luh... nna... s'cold..."
Lena: I'm here, baby. You're safe. Just waking up
His eyes fluttered open. Unfocused. He blinked hard, then grimaced
Jaylen: Mmm... hh...nnuh... wha...?
His speech came out jumbled. Thick. His mouth moved slower than his brain. Like trying to talk underwater.
Lena: It's okay. You've been asleep. You had a seizure, remember?
Jaylen: Nuhhh... nuh-uh... I—wha—wheh'm I?
Lena: You're in the hospital. You had a big seizure playing with Jesus. Do you remember basketball?
His brow furrowed. Then he tried to sit up—panic flashing through his features.
Jaylen: No! No! I didn't—I di'nt—I didn't pee I didn't I didn't—
Lena: Hey, hey. Breathe. You're okay. Yes, you did wet yourself, but that's not your fault. It's something that happens when your body goes through something big
Jaylen (gibberish): Muhh... muh... my h-head izzz—buzzzy buzz buzz...
His hands clutched the air in front of him, clawing at something only he could feel.
Jaylen: Wuzz wrong wif my mouth
Lena: You're still recovering. You had what's called status epilepticus
Jaylen: Don't... no! Don't wanna! No big words! Don't—talk like that!
Lena: Okay, okay. I'm sorry
He gritted his teeth. Eyes wide and wet. He started to rock back and forth in the bed, a movement I recognized instantly. His stim. One he usually did when he was overloaded or couldn't find the words.
Jaylen: too loud
Lena: I'll ask them to dim the lights. Close the door
He clawed at the sheets.
Jaylen: Why's my head all wrong? Why's it not working? It's broken!
Lena: It's not broken, sweetheart. You're tired. You've been through a lot. It'll get easier
He didn't believe me. I could see it in the twist of his mouth. In the way he looked at his own hands like they weren't his.
Jaylen: Wanna go home
Lena: You need to stay here a bit longer. They're adjusting your meds. To help your brain stay calm
Jaylen: Don't want more pills! They make me dumb. They make me feel weird
His voice cracked on the last word and aI sat down beside him. Took his hand again.
Lena: You are real. You're you. Even when your brain feels scrambled. We're going to help you feel better. I promise
He turned his face into the pillow and let out a low groan.

That night, he was restless. He snapped at the nurses. Refused to take the new medication until I physically held his hand through it. Threw his juice box across the room when he spilled it and couldn't explain why. He cried. He cursed. He zoned out. He punched the railing of the bed hard enough to bruise his knuckles. They said it was all expected. The adjustment. The agitation. But I hated every second of it. He wasn't himself. Or maybe he was. Just in pain. Trapped inside a mind that betrayed him.

Naomi: His blood levels are responding. The seizure activity has decreased overnight. The meds are working
Lena: And the side effects?
Naomi: Will last a while. Could be a few weeks before he feels balanced again
Lena: His speech...
Naomi: That should improve with rest. If it doesn't, we'll re-evaluate. But his brain needs time

Later that afternoon, I sat with him again. He was quieter now. Staring at the TV, not really watching it.
Lena: Can I sit?
He shrugged.
Lena: i know this sucks. I wish I could take it all from you
Jaylen: Wanna go back
Lena: Back where?
Jaylen: Before
Lena: Before the seizure?
He shook his head.
Jaylen: Before everything. When my mom was alive. When my brain worked
That punched the air out of my lungs.
Lena: Oh, honey...
Jaylen: I don't wanna be this. I'm tired of being broken
I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him carefully.
Lena: You're not broken. You're brave. You're here. That matters more than anything. We'll figure this out. Together
His body stiffened at first, then melted into me.
He didn't say anything else. But he didn't pull away. And that, today, was enough.