From the moment Owen entered the world, his parents sensed that life would unfold differently.

Colleen Jendreas held her newborn son and imagined the future every parent hopes for—soft lullabies, first words, wobbly steps, scraped knees, ordinary joys. She imagined a childhood shaped by growth, not fear.

But within months, that vision quietly began to fracture.

The First Signs Something Was Wrong

It started subtly.

Owen would pause mid-movement. Freeze for just a second. Blink and continue as if nothing had happened. At first, it was easy to dismiss—babies do strange things, after all.

But the pauses kept coming.

At five months old, Colleen watched him freeze again, and this time her body reacted before her mind did. A mother’s instinct rose sharply, unmistakably.

This isn’t normal.

That instinct would change everything.

A Diagnosis That Stopped Time

At Children’s Hospital Orange County, doctors ran tests that led to a devastating diagnosis: explosive onset epilepsy, a rare and severe form of pediatric epilepsy.

“Explosive” is not a word any parent expects to hear attached to their child’s life.

For Owen, it meant seizures without warning—during sleep, while awake, even while feeding. His tiny body was under constant threat, his developing brain under relentless assault.

Medication began immediately.

Strong medications. Life-altering medications.

Colleen signed consent forms she never imagined needing to sign, agreeing to weekly blood tests, strict monitoring, and side effects that were frightening in their own right.

And still, the seizures continued.

A First Christmas Inside Hospital Walls

When Christmas arrived, it looked nothing like the one Colleen had imagined.

Outside the hospital, lights glowed and families gathered around warm tables. Inside, Owen spent his first Christmas surrounded by sterile walls, blinking monitors, and volunteers dressed as Santa Claus.

It was a jarring contrast—holiday cheer pressed up against life-threatening reality.

Yet even there, Owen offered something extraordinary.

A faint smile.
A brief sparkle in his eyes.

Those moments were tiny, but they were everything. Each smile felt like proof that he was still fighting.

Development Interrupted

As weeks turned into months, the effects of Owen’s condition became clearer.

Milestones slowed.
Crawling was delayed.
Sitting independently was difficult.
Speech lagged behind.

Seizures and medications took a toll not just on his body, but on his development.

And still, Owen fought.

Progress was measured differently now—not in months or years, but in moments.

A steadier hand.
A longer gaze.
A sound that hinted at a word.

A Mother Becomes an Advocate

Colleen quickly became more than a mother.

She became a medical advocate, a researcher, a constant presence beside hospital beds and examination tables. Hospital hallways became familiar. Doctors’ faces etched themselves into memory.

She learned a new language—EEGs, seizure thresholds, medication levels, emergency protocols.

She learned the exhaustion of constant vigilance.

Love alone could not protect Owen.
Action had to accompany it.

At night, she whispered encouragement into the quiet. During the day, she celebrated the smallest victories with fierce gratitude.

The Cost of Treatment

Medication brought partial relief—but not without consequences.

The drugs that suppressed seizures also caused fatigue, irritability, and side effects that sometimes mimicked the illness itself. Every dose was a balancing act. Every lab result carried weight.

Fear never fully rested.

One missed seizure could mean regression.
One unusual stillness could signal danger.

Colleen learned to live in a state of hyper-awareness, always watching, always listening.

Strength Within the Family

Owen’s siblings played a vital role in his journey.

Their patience, their acceptance, their love helped create a sense of normalcy. They reminded the family that even with seizures and medications, childhood could still exist—altered, yes, but present.

Laughter found its way into hospital rooms.
Toys were clutched with determination.
Moments of play broke through fear.

These moments mattered more than anyone outside the experience could understand.

Finding Community in the Unknown

Rare epilepsy can be isolating.

Few people understand its unpredictability or severity. Colleen found connection through online support groups—families navigating the same diagnoses, the same fear, the same exhaustion.

Shared stories became lifelines.

Advice, validation, empathy—sometimes from strangers—provided comfort when answers were scarce.

Through education, Colleen became Owen’s voice. She explained his condition to teachers, friends, and strangers. She advocated for awareness, knowing that understanding could save lives.

Progress Measured in Courage

As Owen approached his third birthday, progress came slowly—but it came.

Developmentally, he remained closer to a baby than a toddler. But every interaction, every attempt at movement, carried meaning.

First attempts at steps.
Babbled sounds.
Engagement with siblings.

Each success was monumental.

Each smile was proof that resilience was real.

Beyond the Physical Battle

The physical challenges tell only part of Owen’s story.

The emotional toll—the constant fear, the uncertainty, the grief for a childhood interrupted—runs deep. Watching a child face life-threatening illness reshapes a parent forever.

Yet hope remained.

Not naïve hope.
Not blind optimism.

But hard-earned, fiercely protected hope.

A Life Redefined

Owen’s journey illustrates how childhood illness changes everything.

Time slows.
Ordinary moments become sacred.
A nap, a snack, a hug—each carries weight.

His story extends beyond him. It shapes siblings, parents, extended family, and friends. It teaches resilience not through heroics, but through quiet endurance.

For Colleen, the fight continues.

Therapy sessions.
Medical appointments.
Daily vigilance.

Uncertainty still lingers. The future remains unclear.

But the family refuses to surrender.

A Testament to Love and Resilience

Owen’s story is not just about epilepsy.

It is about love that adapts.
About advocacy born from fear.
About resilience built in small victories.

It is a reminder that children facing rare and severe medical conditions carry courage beyond their years—and that families fighting beside them deserve recognition, understanding, and support.

Each day with Owen is precious.

Every milestone—no matter how small—is a triumph.

And while the road ahead remains uncertain, one truth is unwavering: a mother’s love, supported by family and community, can sustain hope even in the most fragile circumstances.

Owen’s journey is a testament to the human spirit—a story of perseverance, awareness, and love that refuses to let go.