UAMS Neurosurgeon Performs State’s First Deep Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy

Nathaniel Howell, 28, has had seizures all his life. He's tried several medications and has a vagus nerve stimulator, but his seizures have remained persistent. In December 2020, he had deep brain stimulation surgery, a therapy that was approved in 2018 for patients with epilepsy.
Howell is the first in Arkansas to have this operation.

[@jeremystewert4303]

Although I don’t know his diagnosis I would feel competent enough to say that, “I feel ya!” I’ve been diagnosed with Lennox Gastoux syndrome and it has effected my life greatly. I have underwent two VNS surgeries and a 2/3 Posterior Corpus Calosotomy at Vanderbilt University Hospital. People say “wouldn’t it be great if you don’t have anymore seizures!” Wouldn’t it it be great if I don’t take 23 pills a day and fall on my face like a drunk! My goal is 10 pills a day, no arrests for drunk in public when I’m really just having a seizure, and not knocking out anymore teeth while having an atonic seizure! Since it’s not illegal to have a seizure in public, why am I getting ticketed and arrested? I think this makes 4 times? I’m not going to be a shut-in in my own town because of a disability I was born with? Do we have to get licenses for wheel chairs now? I have a college degree but apparently epilepsy is contagious.