Fallsucht I- Brown

"Many cultures still view seizure disorders and epilepsy as a mysterious ailment and the sufferer as someone with whom not to associate^”1

Good question. The details included in the sculpture do suggest that either Wentz or a loved one did suffer from seizures. I was unable to find much information about Bodo Wentz, and the limited information I did find was in German. Thanks Louise Brown

I thought this was a very moving piece of artwork. The shell depicting the person ultimately going in and hiding from the world is extremely sad. Oftentimes we are worried about doing our jobs (ensuring correct meds, consultation about meds, insurance issues, etc). However, standing in front of us is someone who has so much more going on underneath. I haven't spoken with a patient regarding the social isolation this disease can bring. It makes me want to ask them what more we can do to help them. I hope that we can provide encouragement to them. Just telling them that there are a lot of new medications and options that didn't exist even a decade ago may be helpful. Perhaps this can bring some hope. Have you encountered patients describing feelings beyond the seizures?- Laura Penca

Laura, thank you for commenting on my post. I regret to say that I never really took the time to ask my patients suffering with epilepsy about how they felt psycho-socially. I no longer work in retail, but it makes me sad to look back on some of my epileptic patients and realize that I missed an opportunity to help support them psycho-socially. I think I may have misunderstood their flat affect as a sign they did not want to talk, when in fact in may have been the opposite. (Louise Brown)

It is very amazing to see how art can demonstrate in such a well crafted sculpture the epilepsy as a condition- Ahmed Youssef

Ahmed, thank you for commenting on my post. I wanted to share this piece as it was very moving to me. Too many times I find myself focused on a product, such as medications or vaccinations and neglect to pay attention to the person stood in-front of me. This was a reminder that I need to treat the whole person not just what I can or want to see. (Louise Brown)

Hi Louise, I feel the same way! We are oftentimes so focused on treating the patient that we forget to look at the patient as a whole. This is a great piece of artwork. Thanks for sharing this with us! - Samantha Varghese

I liked how the artist expressed social isolation as retreating into a shell. Truly, this humane aspect is usually overlooked. We dispense a handful of prescriptions for AED and counsel patients on possible adverse reactions, not knowing what these patients go through. Thank you for sharing this article on artwork and helping us get more acquainted with epilepsy patients.

Noha

This is a very thought provoking sculpture. There is a lot of isolation and stigma associated with epilepsy. Patients tend to feel lonely and this can lead to depression. In cases of epilepsy, a holistic approach must be taken when treating patients.

Omolola Asielue

Hi Louise, thank you for sharing these sculptures and providing a brief description. I would have to admit that my initial thoughts about the sculptures aligned with your description but only for the top image. However, interestingly, I found that the bottom two images depicted someone who is coming out of the shell per say and breaking free of the restrictions and social norm. - Trusha Patel

Louise, I love that found a sculpture that depict both the brain and the psycho-social aspects of epilepsy. I think that it is an intricate dance that is portrayed. The brain controls the physiological aspects of the disease. The shell that is the life that the patient has to live in while trying to control the brain. I think that I will influence the way I interact with patient's in the future. I will be more cognizant of their struggle between the two. Cindy Maciak

Art has the ability to bring ideas to humanity across boundaries such as culture, language and time. When I teach interns one of the areas of focus is how to keep your humanity alive on busy days. I will incorporate art and poetry into my encounters in the future. Kevin