A mother’s fi ght to raise awareness about Epilepsy
BY JASON COHEN
November is Epilepsy
Awareness Month and one
Bronx mom is doing her best
to advocate about the disease.
Tara Gibson, 38, of Soundview,
created Seize the Cure,
in honor of her son, Maliq
Fenelon, who suffers from Refractory
Epilepsy, which is a
form of epilepsy that is not controlled
by medications and is
extremely diffi cult to treat in
that there are usually no signs
or triggers nor is there a particular
pattern of occurrence.
His condition has made a
signifi cant impact on him cognitively,
emotionally and physically.
The seizures cause an
array of temporary and permanent
damage, not including
the unmanageable side effects
of seizure medications.
Due to his condition being
life threatening, his chances
for SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected
Death of Someone with
Epilepsy) are higher.
“It’s a scary feeling every
time he has a seizure,” Gibson
said. “It’s not something you
ever get used to.”
Gibson, who is a singer and
hosts a radio show, said ever
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N 28 OVEMBER 15-21, 2019 BTR
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FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF THE BRONX
Docket No. NN-15626-27-18
SUMMONS
In the Matter of
JASMINE CALLAZO
AJAY RIVERA
A Child(ren) Under Eighteen Years
Alleged to be Neglected by
ROSA RAMOS/EDUARDO RIVERA
Respondent(s)
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR
RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST
RECENT 22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO
TERMINATE YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF
YOUR CHILD TO THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. IN SOME CASES, THE
AGENCY MAY FILE BEFORE THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. IF SEVERE OR REPEATED
CHILD ABUSE IS PROVEN BY CLEAN AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE, THIS FINDING MAY
CONSTITUTE THE BASIS TO TERMINATE YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT
GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF
ADOPTION.
TO: EDUARDO RIVERA
A petition under ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT having been filed with this court alleging that
the above-named child(ren) is a neglected child(ren), a copy of said petition being annexed hereto:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this court at 900 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx, New
York, 10451 Part 14, December 18, 2019 at 10:30 – 11:00 A.M. oʼclock of said day to answer the
petition and to show cause why said child(ren) should not be adjudicated to be a neglected child(ren) and
why you should not be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY
COURT ACT and why an order of support under SECTION 235 of the FAMILY COURT ACT should not
be made if the final disposition is an order of placement.
On your failure to appear as herein directed, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
FURTHER NOTICE: Family Court Act §154 (c) provides that petitions brought pursuant to Articles 4, 5, 6,
8 and 10 of the Family Court Act, in which an order of protection is sought or in which a violation of an
order of protection is alleged, may be served outside the State of New York upon a Respondent who is not
a resident or domiciliary of the State of New York. If no other grounds for obtaining personal jurisdiction
over the Respondent exist aside from the application of this provision, the exercise of personal jurisdiction
over the respondent is limited to the issue of the request for, or alleged violation of the order of protection.
Where the Respondent has been served with this summons and petition and does not appear, the Family
Court may proceed to a hearing with respect to issuance or enforcement of the order of protection.
STEPHEN G. BYRNES
CLERK OF THE FAMILY COURT
Dated: October 1, 2019
since Maliq was diagnosed
at age 7, their lives have been
turned upside down. While
she has epilepsy and so did
her father Gene Gibson, their
cases are nothing in comparison
to her son’s.
In 2017, she launched Seize
the Cure, in hopes of raising
awareness about the disease.
She has held fi ve events and
one workshop. People network,
connect and often get
quite emotional; as for many
it is their fi rst time speaking
about their experience with
epilepsy.
The next event is May 17,
2020, at the Bronx YMCA at 2
Castle Hill Avenue.
“It’s (the group’s) incredible
for a number of reasons,”
she remarked. “There’s always
someone with a worse
situation.”
As he has gotten older
things have become more diffi
cult. When he was a child he
would space out and foam at
the mouth, while as a teen, he
gets seizures more, often along
with memory loss.
According to Gibson, Maliq
doesn’t know when he has a
seizure coming, but she sees
the warning signs. Usually
two weeks prior, she observes
his mood changes and memory
loss.
The seizures last between
two and a half to three and half
minutes and Maliq doesn’t remember
what took place.
To ward off injuries she
uses paper plates, is planning
to reverse the bathroom door
swing so it pulls open and will
be putting down rugs.
As he nears the completion
of high school, things will not
get easier, Gibson stated.
“Where does he get his fi rst
job and a job that will cater
to his situation?” she asked.
“He’s 17. He wants to be independent.”
Another component of epilepsy
is depression. It can
drain a person mentally and
often take a toll.
Maliq told the Bronx Times
he appreciates all of the sacrifi
ce and hard work his mom
has done on his behalf.
“As I’ve gotten older, it’s
gotten worse,” he said. “She
made Seize the Cure and it’s
dedicated to me.”
He doesn’t let epilepsy defi
ne him.
“People should know if they
have epilepsy, no matter how
depressing, it’s not the end of
the world,” Maliq said.
One in 26 Americans will
develop epilepsy in their lifetime.
An estimated 3.4 million
Americans and 65 million people
worldwide currently live
with epilepsy.
The next fundraiser of Seize the Cure will be held on May 17 at the Bronx YMCA. Photo courtesy of Natfi cial Fellomen
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