11-year-old Za’kiyla and her younger sister, 8-year-old Za’kaylin Ricks, are two incredible little girls who were born with an unwavering resilience and determination to fight through every unimaginable obstacle that comes their way. At the only age of six, Za’kiyla, “Kiy”, was diagnosed with pediatric epilepsy. Then at the age of three, her baby sister Za’kaylin, “Kay”, received the same diagnoses.
“You would think it’s something to get use to but it’s not.” Kay and Kiys mom, Audresha Ricks said solemnly, “You just learn to live with it. There are so many kids that go into seizures and never make it out, that’s the scary part.”
Pediatric Epilepsy is a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures. It affects 1% to 2% of children worldwide. Many children outgrow epilepsy before or during adolescence and their seizures go away, ultimately allowing treatments to be successfully reduced or stopped. However, some, like Kiy and Kay, must continue taking the treatments and hope for a cure.
Although Kiy and Kay have been facing an uncertain and difficult battle against pediatric epilepsy, the sisters never fight alone but are always with one another, helping guide the other through these uncontrolled and most frightening moments of their life. Because of their profound experience with epilepsy, the young sisters know the ins and outs of most major hospitals located here in Georgia as well as how to tackle a seizure before it occurs.
While it’s easy and acceptable for anyone experiencing epilepsy to feel completely defeated, Kiy and Kay are choosing to use their disorder to teach others how to overcome the disease or at least fight their way through it, just like they do. Furthermore, they want people to know that a seizure can happen to anyone - including those that do not have a history of epilepsy, anywhere, at any given time, and by being prepared you can possibly save a life.
Every year, the sisters, along with their supportive mom, Audresha Ricks, host a free event at the Swainsboro Splash Pad for the people of our community to enjoy a day in the sun with their children. During the event Kiy and Kay provide attendees with complimentary food and drinks from different vendors as well as a very informative program on epileptic and non-epileptic seizures and how to overcome them.
You can prevent seizures by taking your medication as prescribed, getting enough sleep to reduce overall stress, eating meals at regular times and having healthy snacks between meals, avoiding alcohol and drugs, exercising, paying attention to fevers, avoiding flashing lights, and finding the best neurologist for you.
If you witness someone experiencing a seizure, Kiy and Kay y want you to remember these steps:
• Time their seizure.
• Protect their head from injury.
• Call for help.
• Never restrain the affected person.
• Never put anything in their mouth.
• Do not give them anything to eat.
• The affected person CAN NOT swallow their tounge.
Kiy and Kay will be hosting their annual event, Splashing Away Epilepsy, on Saturday, July 28 at the Swainsboro Splash-Pad, located at the Recreation Department. This is a free event open to the public. Complimentary food and drinks will be provided as well as a short epilepsy education class. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and last until 7 p.m.
