After nearly two decades of homeschooling, Melody and Tim thought they had seen it all—they’ve beaten cancer, raised little ones with special needs, survived a life-threatening pregnancy, and graduated two of their six children. Then, two years ago, their young son was diagnosed with epilepsy, and their world was once again rocked.

Doctors weren’t sure what brought them on Ben’s petit-mal seizures, or if they would go away. Without question, Melody and Tim knew homeschooling would still be the best option for their family, but young Ben summed it up best.

“I have lots of issues with school because of my disabilities,” he said. “I like how my mom can help me, especially with my math when I am stressed about it. I love being away from mean kids that tease me for my disabilities; I love being able to go on field trips with friends often. And I love how homeschooling lets me have more time with my family.”

Ben’s petit-mal seizures, also known as absent seizures, cause him to lose awareness and stare blankly ahead. Sometimes it involves lip smacking and fluttering eyelids. They last 30 seconds to a minute and he doesn’t remember them afterwards.

Ben is now 12 and, on a few occasions, has even had grand-mal seizures that leave his body shaking. His parents are still looking for help and answers.

Melody shares, “He knows when he’s had one because when he ‘comes back’ from the episode, the conversation is not where he’d left it, or people are not in the same spot they had been in the minute before.”

On top of epilepsy, Ben is challenged with dyslexia and ADHD. While these make it hard to read and stay focused, the seizures undermine his ability to retain the things he’s learning. They wipe out his memory, causing him to lose one to two weeks’ progress in his schoolwork.

“He can’t just pick up where he left off in his studies,” Melody said. “He has to go back to previous lessons.”

Seizures leave Ben with migraines and exhaustion. It typically affects him for the rest of the day, causing him the need to lie down for several hours. If ADHD can feel like two steps forward, one step back, his seizures feel like one step forward, two steps back.

Ben was using an older, slower laptop for his studies, and the poor upload speed left him distracted while he waited. So, Ben’s doctor recommended that he use one with a faster processing speed to help reduce distractions. But the cost of new tech wasn’t within reach.

Like countless other families, they found themselves relying on savings and credit cards when the pandemic resulted in a loss of regular paychecks. They had been working hard for three years to pay down their debts when they were hit with the diagnosis of their sons’ epilepsy. More medical bills meant they couldn’t add anything to their already stretched budget.  

Melody knew Ben could benefit from a tutor, so she began researching affordable options. She ran across HSLDA’s website and called us for help. She was directed to the Compassion program, where financially struggling families can apply for curriculum grants.

The Compassion Grant proved a critical turning point for Melody and her family. She immediately purchased updated laptops and discounted curriculum through HSLDA’s Discount Vendor program. Her children gained the tools they needed to stay engaged and keep learning despite daily challenges.

For Ben, whose epilepsy, dyslexia, and ADHD often disrupt his ability to retain information, having faster, more reliable technology made it easier to stay focused and reduce frustration. The grant didn’t just relieve financial pressure: it directly improved the learning experience, making homeschool more manageable and effective during an already difficult season.

“Not stressing about the cost of curriculum really paved the way, and reduced student struggles and teacher grading,” Melody said. “The grant was more than financial assistance; it helped us get the tools needed to help my kids learn in a better way.”

Now 12, Ben continues to face challenges, but homeschooling still offers him something that traditional education can’t: support, flexibility, and peace.