Embracing Our Differences: Living with Dravet Syndrome

"Embracing Our Differences" is a story about a Hispanic three-year-old boy who goes to school for the very first time and is suffering from a rare medical condition called Dravet Syndrome. Although the syndrome can affect every aspect of a child's life, Matias is fighting every day to live a fun, energetic, and meaningful life with a condition that his tomorrow is not promised. Even at the tender age of three, Matias is a trooper with the will to fight every day. His adoring soul touches everyone around him, and his heart became a magnet to his nurse Belinda Thompson, who developed a special bond with a child who she believes is God's most precious gift. This book was inspired by the lack of awareness and education about the Dravet Syndrome in our community and Public School System and written to spread attention to epilepsy and its numerous forms. The title was inspired due to us all being born different. Every individual has a special gift and/or talent regardless of their medical condition. When we as a whole can appreciate the reality of our differences, we can then learn to embrace them.