Conner Butler, a teenager from Jeromesville, Ohio, received a responsive neurostimulator (RNS) device at Akron Children’s Hospital. He is the first patient at the hospital to receive this technology. Conner’s experience shows the challenges of managing epilepsy and the use of new medical treatments.
Conner began having symptoms in childhood, often ‘zoning out,’ which was first thought to be a behavioral issue. In August 2020, he had a full-body convulsion. More episodes followed, leading to several hospital visits. At age 11, doctors diagnosed him with epilepsy, a disorder that causes recurrent seizures. At one point, Conner had four to five seizures each week. These episodes left him tired and unable to attend school regularly.
Epilepsy affected Conner’s health, education, and family life. His grandmother and guardian, Michelle Bible, described the difficulties caused by frequent school absences and missed work. For a year, Conner could not attend school in person and instead worked with a home tutor three days a week…