Faith helps teenager conquer epilepsy

“Seeing everyone smile and be happy has what has seen me through this,” are the words of a Yellowwood Park teenager’s whose faith and positive attitude has helped him overcome major health problems. Matthew Ferenćak was born with hemipacaial atrophy.

The courageous teenager was only diagnosed with the illness at four-years-old. Hemipacaial atrophy is a condition that doesn’t allow fat to reproduce on one side of your face. In Matthew’s case the right side of his face is affected.

As a young boy Matthew was very active with sports and achieved Western Province zonal colours for hockey. On 15 November 2011, while playing a hockey match he was hit on the forehead with a hockey stick. He underwent surgery and a titanium plate was placed into his forehead. Three months later, Matthew experienced seizures and was diagnosed with post traumatic epilepsy. There were times where he would have a seizure while in the shower. “I had seizures almost everywhere I went,” said Matthew.

Matthew and his family moved back to Durban for family support. His mother Susan was desperate to get to the root of her son’s epilepsy and sought the help of a neurologist in Cape Town. Matthew travelled to Cape Town and underwent surgery where neuro-electrodes were placed onto his brain to find the source of his epilepsy. His uncle Fred has been at his side throughout the ordeal. “This operation was the worst because we weren’t sure if doctors would find anything,” said Fred.

Doctors found that Matthew’s epilepsy started in the bottom right side of his brain – the part of the brain that controls vision. Matthew went in for his second surgery to remove the affected part of his brain on Friday, 15 August. “I wanted Matthew to have the second operation because I wanted him to have a normal life. It doesn’t matter how bad things look, you have to let go and let God,” said Susan. Matthew’s sisters Kelly and Megan were quick to help every time their brother had a seizure and always knew which medication he needed. “My siblings have helped me a lot. At times I think they may have felt left out but I think this has made them stronger,” said Matthew.

The positive teenager is now on his way to recovery. The result of his brain surgery is that Matthew has lost 50 percent peripheral vision in his left eye and 10 percent in his right eye. “I’ll admit my faith was tested. I walked into things,” he said. Family has been a solid support throughout his ordeal. “My mom and Fred have helped me a lot. I give all the credit to them,” said Matthew.
Mathew will be on medication for a year after which doctors will wean him off.
Susan and her family also give credit to Dr Butler and Dr Melvill at Constantiaberg Medi Clinic.

Yellowwood Park Athletics Club has been encouraging Mathew thought his ordeal. “The club has rallied behind Matthew and we are holding him and his wonderfully supportive family in our hearts and prayers through what is an incredibly tough time for them all. His remarkable courage and composure through his operations and setbacks has been an inspiration to us all, and we are confident he will make a full recovery”, said Yellowwood Park Athletics Club chairman, Mike Sutton.

The 17-year-old aptly nicknamed ‘lion’ by his grade 11 classmates at St Barnabas for his positive attitude and willingness to look out for people has another three weeks of recovery at home before he returns to school. Matthew looks forward to going back to the driving range and watching soccer.