My Dad on KABC, ABC 7

My Dad's story aired tonight! Click on the pic below to read the transcript or view the video at the KABC-TV website by clicking here:

'Night Terrors' Often Misdiagnosed

A special thanks again to KABC-TV Eyewitness News Los Angeles for helping bring light to RBD!

Dad Brings Light to UCLA!

Today my Dad spoke to a group of UCLA medical residents at the invitation of wonderful Dr. Avidan. The hope (I think) was obviously to educate them, but also to put a name and face to a disorder most students just read about. My Mom and I accompanied my Dad and I can't express how proud I felt of him as he told his story with such honesty and openness. Who would have thought all those years ago when my Dad was convinced he was going insane that he would be sharing his experience and enlighteneing the minds (and hopefully hearts) of future M.D.s?

Dr. Avidan also presented a very informative PowerPoint presentation on RBD. He then asked my Mom and I to speak about what it's been like to live with and love someone who suffers from the disorder. I felt so emotional during the whole thing that I'm afraid I could barely find the words. I just tried to convey how heartbreaking it was to see my Dad's health decline, to have such few answers and to be met with such disregard from so many medical professionals we saw. That is, until we found Dr. Avidan.

As we left, I told my Dad, "Thanks to you there are now 20 future doctors who will go out into the world and have a better understanding of what RBD is". Quite a beautiful thing if you ask me.

There is Help... and Hope!

During the course of several months I saw my Dad's health (emotional & physical) decline. Not only was he was sleeping poorly but he was exhibiting extreme fatigue during the day which was consequently manifesting itself in depression. Something had to be done. And so in a desperate attempt to find some help, I contacted Dr. Carlos H. Schenck and asked for a referral in our area. He recommended a Dr. Alon Y. Avidan at UCLA Medical Center.

I could go on and on and on (and on!) about our experience with Dr. Avidan, but for the sake of brevity I'll share an email I sent to to Dr. Schenck immediately upon returning home from the appointment which I believe sums things up nicely...

" Several months ago you were kind enough to give me a referral to Dr. Avidan for my father who has RBD. Yesterday we (my Father, Mother & I), finally met with him and I just wanted you to know how absolutely wonderful he was. Aside from the fact he felt he could help improve on my Father's present situation, he treated us with so much care, kindness, respect and dignity. It was truly a phenomenal experience and I just can not thank you enough for steering us to him. I'm getting married on Sat. and it was the greatest gift. We have so much to celebrate!"

And just for the record, my Dad is presently following the treatment outline prescribed by Dr. Avidan and I'm elated to report that he is doing better than he has in a very, very long time. His (and our) hope has been restored and I will never be able to thank Dr. Schenck and Dr. Avidan enough for their help, expertise and above all, kindness.