|
Aric Joseph Chandler was born May 27, 1994 and died during his sleep on August 4, 2016, at the tender age of 22. Just a few weeks prior, Aric had been accepted into the Psychology Department of the University of Washington as a transfer student from Bellevue College. Aric died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP. In the same month Aric died, the New York Times published an article on SUDEP. It can be found by following the button on the left.
Aric was diagnosed with epilepsy as a young child, and his seizures were under control with medication. By about the age of five he no longer showed any seizure activity and the neurologists determined that medication was probably no longer therapeutic. Aric had no seizures until about four years ago when he crashed on his mountain bike. Neurologists again determined he had brainwave patterns indicating epilepsy and recommended he take medication. Aric showed no evidence of seizures so he felt confident that his seizure was due to a bicycle wreck and declined to take medication. He had a flu bug which the medical examiner believes lowered his seizure threshold such that it stopped the electrical signal to his heart and he died instantly. Aric's sudden and unexpected death was the subject of an article by Nicole Brodeur of the Seattle Times. The article and the many comments from readers can be found on the button on the top left. |