<h1>Lisa Ratledge: From Seizures to Success as Detroit Pistons Ball Boy</h1>
<p>Lisa Ratledge still vividly remembers the sleepless nights she spent fearing that her son Glenn would have a seizure and die in his bed. Glenn was just 9 years old when he had surgery to remove part of his brain to try to stop the seizures caused by tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic condition. Today, Lisa watches with amazement as Glenn fulfills his dream of working as a ball boy for the Detroit Pistons, rubbing shoulders with NBA stars.</p>
<p>Glenn’s third season as a ball boy for the Pistons begins on October 28, and Lisa couldn’t be happier. She says, “It’s like night and day. It went from the worst for him to the best.”</p>
<p>Now 22 years old, Glenn has come a long way from the days of frequent seizures and hospital visits. He is grateful to be alive and cherishes every moment. He says, “Sometimes I tell myself that you never know what can happen.”</p>
<p>Glenn’s journey with tuberous sclerosis began when he was just 14 months old. Lisa discovered him having a seizure in his crib and immediately called 911. He was later diagnosed with TSC, a condition that causes benign tumors to form in the brain and body. The disease can lead to seizures, brain lesions, cognitive difficulties, and behavior problems.</p>
<p>Glenn’s seizures became more severe as he grew older, and his doctors warned that puberty could intensify them even further. At the age of 9, Glenn began experiencing seizures that wouldn’t respond to medication. Lisa recalls the terrifying moments when they almost lost him multiple times. Surgery seemed like the only option to give Glenn a chance at a normal life.</p>
<p>Before the surgery, doctors needed to pinpoint the source of Glenn’s seizures. They performed a craniotomy, removing part of his skull and placing electrodes on his brain to track the electrical activity during seizures. The surgery took place in 2010, when Glenn was just 9 years old.</p>
<p>Recovery was not easy for Glenn. He had to spend about a month in the hospital, unable to move around much. However, he managed to overcome the obstacles and regain his strength. Despite the part of his brain associated with vision being removed, Glenn doesn’t seem to have any significant impairments. Dr. Hugh Garton, the pediatric neurosurgeon who performed the surgery, says, “By all rights, he should’ve lost a substantial portion of his visual field, but he doesn’t seem to have one at all, which is a real piece of good fortune.”</p>
<p>In 2015, Glenn had the opportunity of a lifetime when he was honored as a “Piston for the Day” by the Detroit Pistons. He got to meet the players, received a jersey, and even signed a one-day contract. The experience left a lasting impression on Glenn, who considered himself the team’s biggest fan. It was this experience that led him to reach out to Pistons equipment manager John Coumoundouros a few years later.</p>
<p>Coumoundouros offered Glenn a job as a ball boy once he turned 18, and Glenn happily accepted. Now, he spends his days rebounding and passing to the players during warmups, cleaning the bench area, and assisting the coaches. It’s a dream come true for Glenn, who couldn’t be more excited about his role with the team.</p>
<p>Lisa couldn’t be prouder of her son and the progress he has made. She says, “I’m just happy I’m alive.”</p>
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