The Tyler Foundation is Adding a Personal Touch to the Fight Against Epilepsy

Boston, MA, August 09, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Tyler Foundation strives to provide financial support to families' of children with epilepsy that are being treated at Children's Hospital Boston and UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center.

The Tyler Foundation was founded in 2006, by Erik and Heather Plotkin, to reach out to families of children with epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder in the United States, approximately 3.0 million Americans have epilepsy, with approximately 45,000 children under the age of 15 diagnosed each year.

It is estimated that for 20 percent of children with epilepsy, surgery is their best chance to live seizure-free.

“We know first hand how difficult it is for families to make it through the extended hospital stays both financially and emotionally, that is why the Tyler Foundation was started, to reach out and help those that are not as fortunate as we are,” said Heather Plotkin, President of the Tyler Foundation.

Not all families are fortunate enough to have the money to pay $9/day for parking, or the money to eat out for every meal during the course of the hospital stay, let alone the therapeutic equipment that may be needed post surgery. The Tyler Foundation focuses on providing these families with some financial (as well as emotional) piece of mind while their little ones are at Children’s Hospital Boston or UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center being treated.

One hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds from the Tyler Foundation goes to providing assistance to other families.

The Tyler Foundation has been able to helped 7 families directly - paying co-pays not covered by insurance, electrical bills so their heat isn't shut off during the winter, and medical bills not covered by insurance. By donating 5 books and 5 scales for the ketogenic diet to families at Children's Hospital Boston - the foundation helped anywhere from 5-10 families.

In addition, the Tyler Foundation has donated 80 care packages to families at both Children's Hospital Boston and UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center.

“We are fortunate that after all we have been through, and continue to go through that our foundation allows us to help others in a time of need,” said the Plotkin’s.

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About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a serious neurological condition that affects almost 3 million Americans and 50 million people worldwide. The condition produces seizures, which can range from a momentary disruption of the senses, to short periods of unconsciousness or staring spells, to convulsions. A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy. Currently there is no cure for epilepsy; however, more than half of people with epilepsy are able to control seizures with existing treatment options.

About the Tyler Foundation

The Tyler Foundation is dedicated to helping improve the quality of life for families affected by epilepsy. Our mission is to provide financial support to families' of children with epilepsy that are being treated at Children's Hospital Boston and UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center. We do this by providing gift cards to local restaurants, free parking passes, lodging costs, gas cards to help with transportation costs to and from appointments or hospital stays, financial assistance for the purchase of therapeutic equipment used in therapy and the treatment of children suffering from epilepsy or recovering from brain surgery. We support families who are patients at Children's Hospital Boston or UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center who have children suffering from seizures. While a lot of the support given is tangible items, we are also providing emotional support to the families, helping them through such a tough time, through email, phone calls, instant messaging programs, as well as providing the families with a gift basket of goodies to help when their child is having major brain surgery. For additional information, please visit www.tylerfoundation.org.
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Tyler Foundation
Erin Downing
978-874-0142
www.tylerfoundation.org
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