Actress and podcaster Gemma Atkinson has shared that her six-year-old daughter Mia has had treatment for epilepsy.
Speaking on Women’s Health magazine’s podcast, Just as Well, on 29 September, Gemma revealed that around 18 months ago Mia started having absence seizures.
She spoke about the ketogenic diet and shared that it has been very effective for Mia, saying her seizures have “got so much better a year in”.
Gemma said: “My daughter is under treatment for epilepsy. She has absence seizures. Obviously when I was told that, I was like: ‘right, I need to research, research, research.’
“I went down a rabbit hole, and [discovered] the keto diet was designed for patients with epilepsy. The improvement we have had… in the last six months, she’s had none.”
The subject came up in an interview for the podcast with actor Davinia Taylor.
Gemma later shared in a story on Instagram that Mia is “now absolutely fine” and “thriving”.
She added: “18 months ago, it was a scary time and to any other families who have been through or are currently going through similar, I truly understand how you feel. There is light at the end of the tunnel though.”
She urged others in her situation to “stay positive”, adding that children can grow out of these seizures, like Mia has.
Gemma, 40, appeared on the TV series Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, where she met her partner Gorka Márquez, 35. The pair have two children, Mia and Thiago, two.
Your child's epilepsy
Information and resources for you and your child to help you understand their epilepsy and get support