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Mason A. Langford, 21 months
May 17, 2013 – February 13, 2015
The night before Mason’s death was typical. Nothing was out of the ordinary. He was nearly 4-months seizure-free. He played for hours that evening. Mason watched the “Goodnight Show” and snuggled with us before he went to bed. After months and months of medical appointments and medicines, we were feeling like we’d found a routine. Like the seizures were maybe at bay. But, Mason died sometime in the middle of that same night.
There were no signs or warnings. He wasn’t sick. We do not know if a seizure was associated with his death.
SUDEP is a medical mystery that provides absolutely no answers or closure to the family left behind. And, still, we celebrate, because Mason was here with us. We want everyone to know our son. We want the world to have a chance to see the light that we were blessed to see shine so brightly, even if only for a such a short but sweet, sweet time.
Here’s what we do know. We had and continue to have lots of questions. More importantly, we continue to want our family, our friends and the world, to know, to love, to understand and to remember our little boy Mason.
Mason’s short life on earth was full of love and happiness. At just 7 months old, just a few days before his first Christmas, Mason had his first seizure. This first seizure was followed by many more months of unexplained seizures until finally, Mason was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Like so many children battling epilepsy, Mason took daily medication in a desperate attempt to keep the seizures away. Mason had more life flight adventures and ambulance rides in his short life than most families encounter in combined lifetimes. His seizures lasted 30 minutes on average and, generally did not stop even when we used his emergency medication. Mason’s seizures did not discriminate. Seizures came any time of the day and in any setting or atmosphere. They came at random. In the bathtub, on walks, while Mason was sitting in his stroller, on play dates at the zoo. Mason’s seizures could and would come anytime and anywhere.
Mason’s epilepsy didn’t slow him down or affect his sweet and caring nature. He was a gentle soul. He loved everyone and not one day of Mason’s life spent here on earth was wasted. Mason loved to go for walks and look for birds. He loved to go to the zoo and roar at the lions, play with his trains and cars. He was affectionate and playful, full of energy and life. He loved to snuggle with his blankie and he carried that blankie everywhere with him. And Mason gave the best hugs. His presence is severely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Mason continues to motivate and inspire us — everyday.
We miss him, love him, talk about him. Mason will be a part of our lives forever and we hope his story will in some way help to comfort, inspire and motivate others as well.
