Elsa Mora regularly brings her 12-year-old son, Daniel Quintero, to the St. Andrew's Children's Clinic for medical care and attention regarding his severe seizures, but on Thursday, April 3, pediatric neurologist Dr. John Gray, and pediatrician Dr. Sandy Newmark, made new progress and discoveries in the case of Daniel's seizures.

Daniel and his mother make the 160 mile journey from Hermosillo, Son., Mexico to Nogales, Ariz., by bus as often as necessary in order for him to receive medical attention.

When Elsa and Daniel arrived at the clinic on April 3 they sat down with Dr. Newmark to review Daniel's record to see if any changes had occurred since his last visit.

Not long after Dr. Newmark began asking Daniel's mother about his symptoms, his body began convulsing, in what appeared to be seizures.

Daniel leaned forward in his wheel chair, and then proceeded to throw himself back so hard that his mother had to hold the chair, in order to support him and keep him from falling.

Dr. Newmark immediately called Dr. Gray's attention to the act, and waited patiently for him to analyze Daniel's behavior.

After studying Daniel for some time, the two doctors left Elsa and her son temporarily to talk amongst themselves.

Dr. Newmark returned, reporting to Elsa that "[Dr. Gray] doesn't think these are really seizures."

Dr. Newmark explained to her that these convulsions stimulate Daniel, adding that he may do it as a way of acting out or getting attention.

As an infant, Daniel had very intense seizures, which have not gone away over the years. Elsa, had believed that he was experiencing them about six times a day, and was somewhat relieved when the doctors informed her that this was not the case.

"If this was a real seizure it wouldn't matter," Dr. Newmark said, explaining that Daniel would no be able to stop. "When I get his attention he stops doing it."



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