AN EPILEPTIC teenager's life is about to be changed thanks to a charity set up to help pay for pioneering surgery.

Samantha Drugan, 14, has suffered from severe epilepsy for the past six years - often having eight fits a day.

A donation by FABLE - For A Better Life with Epilepsy - has helped her to have a vagal nerve stimulator fitted in her chest at Pendlebury Children's Hospital, Manchester. It was the first £5,500 stimulator funded by the Lancashire and Greater Manchester branch of the charity which was set up by Jackie Lloyd, of Belgrave Road, Darwen, after her brain injured son Mark, 18, received the same treatment last year.

The surgery was paid for by the NHS.

The system works like a pacemaker and sends tiny pulses to the vagal nerve in the neck to keep the seizures in control.

Samantha, who lives with her parents Steven and Lynda and two brothers in Bosley Close, Darwen, hopes it will transform her life.

Mrs Drugan said: "Eventually Samantha will be able to stop the fits before they start with a special magnet.

"We have been waiting for the operation for two years and are delighted that she has finally been able to have it done thanks to help from FABLE. "At her worst times she was having eight fits a day and averaging three a week at other times. Unfortunately drugs did nothing to help her.

"Although the fits themselves are not dangerous, she was always coming home with bumps and bruises because of the places she had fallen.

"We were constantly worried, especially at the thought she may have one when she was on her own and there would be nobody to help."

The local branch of the charity has raised almost £8,000 since being set up last September.

Jackie said: "Although I have no say in who benefits from our fund-raising, I'm delighted somebody from Darwen has been helped.

"Samantha is a lovely girl and has been able to give me an insight into what it's like to have an implant, which helps me with Mark. His quality of life has been transformed by the implant."

Anybody who wants to help Jackie in her fund-raising or would like information about the implants can ring her on 01254 706901.

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