Romeo Beckham has epilepsy

It has been revealed that Romeo Beckham, 4, the middle son of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham has epilepsy. After a variety of stints in hospital since he was one, their doctor confirmed that he has the brain condition that causes seizures/convulsions. Sufferers of the condition often have to take medication for the rest of their lives and in the worst case scenario, a seizure can lead to possible death.

This was revealed after photographers tried to get photos of Romeo at the airport last week. Romeo furiously covered his face and once in the car, Victoria tried to protect him. She then angrily told the photographers, "He’s got epilepsy…all that flashing will start an epileptic fit…you can’t do that."

The photographers were from Splash News and the owner Kevin Smith announced that they will no longer be photographing Romeo or his family when he is in their company. Adding that, "No photo is worth putting a child’s life in danger."

We now have the policy that we no longer post photos where parents or the child are attempting to shield themselves from photographers. We will therefore not be posting these pictures. However, News of the World has posted one picture at the link, that we had to include due to it being the source of information.

Source: News of the World

Thanks to CBB emailer "babys on fire"

Has anyone had any experience with epilepsy affecting their children?

Comments

Poor child!
I totally approve of Kevin Smith’s decision.

- Aleah on November 5th, 2006

Myself & my eldest daughter Hazel age 16 have Epilepsy.This can be affected by flash photography, flickering sunlight through trees, flickering computer screens,strobe lights,strobe lights on tv,x box, Christmas tree lights,playstations, sunlight flickering on water, certain patterns, scrolling down on computer,over head projectors & interactive white boards in schools.Quite a lot to remember! I have no warning to my seizures which I have had for 21 years since I was 16,Hazel since birth.Hard to get schools to listen to triggers,and understand the types of Epilepsy.I get help & info from Eilepsy forums Your Epilepsy & N.S.E.

- Jules on November 5th, 2006

I have a 3 year-old who has fits. It is devastating and occasionally difficult especially since my daughter, Raen loves taking photographs. But for the most part, she can do almost everything like a normal kid. She just has to take her medication daily. She a very cheerful child who’s a lot of joy.

I hope Romeo will be the same. He really is such a cutie..

- nadisalynn on November 5th, 2006

I lived next door to a girl who has it. Her family tried everything to try to keep her from having seizures. Since I babysat their younger child who didn’t have it, I became friends with them and it is very hard to be living with that disease from what I have seen. I wish the family the best.

- nanny on November 5th, 2006

Poor guy……..hopefully more of the media will take that into consideration when Romeo is out and about with his family or just hanging out in his everyday life. Sad though, that they had to release that information to get the paparitzzi (sp?) to leave them alone.

- TracieLee on November 5th, 2006

Poor Little Guy. I wish him and his family well.

- joy on November 5th, 2006

Poor Romeo. I’m happy with Kevin Smith’s decision. He is right as no photo is worth putting a child’s life in danger. I wish the Beckham family well.

- Izzie25 on November 5th, 2006

my little brother went through a time when he was having seizures. he hasn’t had one in a while, but for the past 5 or 6 years, he has been on Depakote.

- funnyhoney on November 5th, 2006

Oh, God! I’m sorry for this little boy! I had one convulsion when I was two and my parents say it was very scarrying. I hope the photographers leave the Beckhams alone now… And, yeah, it is sad that they had to release the information.
Fortunately for Romeo, David and Victoria seems wonderfull parents and I think he is going to be all right.

- Luciana on November 5th, 2006

I did suspect that epilepsy unfortunately was the case with Romeo after he had visited the hospital several times with seisures. But having actually read the article in the News of the World this morning i do feel for him and his family having to have had constantly put up with trying to protect him from the flashing cameras, not just because they don’t want him to be photographed, but for something so serious.

My mother has epilepsy, and this is something that i have just been around my whole life, and have been completely used to. However it is often quite distressing when you get other peoples reactions to it, something which i wasn’t really aware of until I was out with my mother when she would black out etc. And i am glad in a way that epilepsy is getting this exposure, as often people are afraid to ask you about it. Also, now that the Beckhams have told photographers, Romeo should feel that he can be out and about more safely, without the constant worry of a flash setting him off.

Luckily it has been diagnosed and now they can hopefully control his seisures so that he can lead as normal life as possible. I wish them all the best, and that Romeo is really a very cute little boy!

- Alexa on November 5th, 2006

I wish Romeo and his family the best. I’m sure his parents are devastated, but seem very devoted to their children and their well-being.

My mom has a mild form of epilepsy, usually set off by flashing or blinking lights.

I know how popular Posh and Becks are and how often they are photographed, esp. with their children. I really hope the paparazzi will realize how dangerous it is for flashing lights to go off in Romeo’s face. God forbid something like that causes him to have a serious seizure.

Bless that child!

- Allison on November 5th, 2006

poor kid, maybe now HIS parents will stop feeding their lives to the papers, and the paps leave him alone

- Trina on November 5th, 2006

Poor Romeo, I don’t know much about epilepsy, but it doesn’t sound good,
That’s a very smart decision, Kevin Smith.

- Aleksa on November 5th, 2006

Poor Romeo Beckham. The paps can be hard at times but with something like this i hope they take it into consideration. Romeo is adorable, and i hope his condition doesn’t affect him too much. I guess epilepsy is what caused him to fit when he was younger.

- Jess on November 5th, 2006

My sister suffered from epilepsy starting when she was about 5. They got her on medicine and as long as she took it every morning and didn’t hit her head during the day, she wouldn’t have a seizure. A few times she fell on the playground and hit her head and even with the medicine she still would have a seizure. As she got older and didn’t fall as much, the seizures because few and far between. She would have to go in regularly for tests but by the time she was like 10 or 11, the doctors tried taking her off her medicine and she hasn’t had a seizure since.

I hope Romeo has the same form my sister did and it doesn’t have to affect his entire life. My sister was afraid she would never be able to drive (even though she didn’t have seizures while she was awake it was still something that was talked about).

- Kodie on November 5th, 2006

Even though this wasn’t really what was asked, but my dad had epilepsy. I say had because four years ago he had brain sugery to remove the growth that was cauing his seziures. He still takes medication, but that’s more so just weening him off it. He was at 15 pills a day before the surgery, now he’s at 5. He had to do PT and OT since he lost all movement on his left side. Today he still walks with a slight limp and his left hand is 100% yet, but he hasn’t had a seizure since.

I know it must be scarey for parents with a child who has epilepsy, but it was just as scarey for me. My dad would usually have a seizure while he was eating, and it was always tenseful for a few moments and embarrasing when it would happen in public. My heart goes out to Romeo and his family.

- Liz on November 5th, 2006

my son has a seizure disorder and it is no fun. He has had it since he was 15 months ad will take medication for the rest of his life. We are too scared to try to take him off of it even though he has been seizure free for about 9 years now. My heart goes out to the Beckhams, it is alot to deal with.

- tink1217 on November 5th, 2006

Oh thats so sad for little Romeo and his family, but I’m glad to hear that at least one photograph agency is being decent..hopefully more will follow suit.

- ucingmomma on November 5th, 2006

i dont have epilepsy, but i have hydrocephalus, which is exces water in the brain. i had seizures when i was younger. i was on phenobarbytol since birth, then i was weaned off when i was 8. it worked for about a year, then they came back. then i got on tegretol when i was nine until i was about 12. was weaned off, and have been seizure free for about nine years.

- MuffThumb on November 5th, 2006

I had epilepsy from age 6 to 18. thankfully my doc said my body grew out of it. i never had convulsions mine were fits of rage, or i would stare for long periods of time or i would hallucinate. mine were caused by flashing lights also, even though i dont have them anymore i still wont go into a room with strobe lights because it scares me. i had problems in school with teachers not understanding why i was halucinating, i even got in trouble one time for making things up. i think if people are more educated then they would understand, jus my opinion though.

- De-De on November 5th, 2006

Romeo’s doctors said he would hopefully grow out of them by the time he’s 7 or so. As for people thinking his parents have him photographed too much, ever since they found out he has epilepsy which was last year, the kids havent been out much at all……only school, airports when they were going to London or Madrid, fast food places and this year on a ski holiday and world cup where Romeo was sitting away from his mother so he wont get photographed that much.

- Posh_Fan on November 5th, 2006

Poor Romeo, no child should have to go through that. I am surprised even more after hearing this, at the Beckhams’ obsession with having a girl. You’d think they would realize that the only thing that matters is a healthy baby.

- Kori on November 5th, 2006

I had epilepsy when I was a child, but I outgrew it by the time I was in highschool. I’m still leery around flashing lights and do my best to avoid anything that can trigger an attack.

- Lindsey on November 6th, 2006

Although I am not a fan of the Beckhams’- my heart goes out to them- no family should have to endure such a devastating diagnosis in one of their children- no doubt they will protect him as best they can. I also,
applaud Kevin Smith’s decision- when it comes to the kids- they absolutely must and should be protected…

- M on November 6th, 2006

Please, please parents, do not refer to seizures as ” fits ” They are seizures and please refer to them in that way. Just think how that must feel to hear the term ” fit ” used. Sounds like the person is a dog rather that a person. very unkind and hurtful to those who suffer with this disorder, and to those that love them. The real painful part of this disorder is the stigma and misinformation that surrounds it. Remember , those with Epilepy used to be burned at the stake, as it was believed that they were witches. Many were placed in mental hospitals, and were thought to be crazy, which of course they are/were not.Our society stil needs massive education regarding Epilepsy. It is not easy, especially for a child to be made to feel that they are odd and different, and to hear their seizures referred to as ‘ fits ” There is so much to learn about this disorder, so that hopefully oneday its sufferers will never again be denied a job, have other children and even adults fear being around them, and feel the painful sting of the epileptic stigma. Please educate yourselves, and help your children know and believe that they can lead a normal life, are often quite bright, often gifted, and please treat them as if they are capable of achieving anything they want to achieve, because we are, and just treat them like the normal children they are.. Thanks

- serene on April 18th, 2011

The rest of the paparazzi should take lead and not take photos of ANY children. Their parents are the celebrities. Leave the kids alone. It might not affect their physical health but their emotional health will without a doubt be affected

- Anonymous on January 14th, 2012