The first of the final, let’s-be-absolutely-sure tests was a “Video EEG”. This means that Rachel checks into the hospital, gets wired up with electrodes, gets a video pointed at her 24/7 (except for bathroom trips), and waits to have seizures.

One tricky part: they want a parent there at all times to push a button to time-stamp her seizures. Next tricky part: not all rooms are private rooms; some of them have noisy unhappy children on the other side of a curtain. Third tricky part: the parent’s “bed” is a bench with a cushion and a sheet.

Luckily, Rachel is really good a forcing a seizure when she needs to. She would lie down, get quiet and peaceful, and start to breathe slowly and deeply. She was able to do this twice, and turned the 3-night stay into a 1-night stay.

Still, it did make us nervous about the expected post-surgical WEEK in the hospital.