Grant comfort and hope to those living with the daily effects of seizures reduce the number of seizure-related deaths that occur in the United States each year.
"We can't say enough good things about The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation. We've been working closely with and donating to this Foundation for over 10 years, and time and time again they amaze us with all that they do. We love supporting them because we've seen first hand that every dollar they raise is put to the absolute best possible use for the families in the epilepsy community. We'd rate this org 6/5 stars if we could. They're that great." Matt A, Colorado
"I have given The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation 5 Stars. Something I rarely do. As with most Foundations it gets created by someone affected by the particular cause. In February 2020 our daughter experienced her first Epileptic Seizure. Not having much experience with Epilepsy, we were unaware of SUDEP. Over the past 3 Years we have benefited greatly by the awareness that the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation teaches and advocates for, for the prevention of SUDEP. Thanks to the connections formed over the years we have been educated quickly on how to help our Daughter. She is thriving as a contributing member of society. She works along with her Service Dog and is out in the community with her friends as I am writing this message. We have been fortunate to live nearby Julie and Doug who have become very good friends and we enjoy helping with events. Our daughter has even been an advisor to one of her co-workers who’s daughter has been experiencing seizures and she has also reached out to a young man in her age group who has been struggling with their Epilepsy." Chris H, Colorado.
"The Chelsea Hutchinson Foundation is very near to my heart. My son was granted a seizure monitor to keep him safe from SUDEP, and over the last few years I’ve grown to love what this foundation stands for and does for our children, and for our peace of mind. The amount of safety they provide in the form of monitors and seizure dogs is absolutely amazing. Julie is the most amazing woman and is very quick to respond to questions and offer support. Her passion to carry on Chelsea’s legacy only helps strengthen the love you feel from this community. STOMP makes me cry every time! We will always do what we can to help support Julie and everyone involved with this foundation. Thank you for all that you do! I’m so glad that even though we don’t have seizure control, we can sleep a little easier knowing our sweet boy is being watched over." Jamie Z, Colorado
"When I met Julie and Doug, and became associated with CHF, I was at a point in my epilepsy journey where I didn't know where to turn. My seizures were not controlled, I was in danger of losing my job, very depressed... I had lost a lot of friends and pretty much had no support system. Julie became a friend. She invited me to so many events where I net people who understood!!! REALLY understood what I was going through... people that I could talk to, people that I could be myself around... this foundation changed my life for the better in so many ways... I received a smart watch monitor which made me feel so much more confident. I LOVE going to all of the CHF events... they are my extended, "E" family..." Kathryn L, Wyoming
The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation grants comfort and hope to those affected by epilepsy through providing monitoring resources, vital information, and a safe haven for conversation and community.
Our main goal is to raise awareness of SUDEP and to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families living with epilepsy.
We raise funds to provide education about SUDEP and to provide seizure response dog grants and movement monitors that help to protect against SUDEP. In addition, we grant wish trips to Epilepsy Awareness Educational Expo and Day at Disneyland and Purple Day Around the World.
We stay up-to-date on current trends in medical technology in order to be able to provide the most effective devices as they become available.
We respect the value and quality of life of every person living with epilepsy.
We are dedicated to providing opportunities that allow individuals and families greater independence, increased confidence, ability to enjoy social environments, and community understanding.
Organization History: Julie Hutchison is President and Co-founder of the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation. Julie's mother had her first seizure at the age of about 59. Over the next 18 years, she experienced 2-3 seizures a year until her death in June of 2007 at the age of 77. It was obvious that she had experienced a seizure and had passed away.
Julie's beautiful daughter, Chelsea, had her first seizure at her 11th birthday party! The strobe light was believed to be the cause of the seizure. Over the next 5-1/2 years, Chelsea experienced 3-5 seizures a year and lived a very normal life. She was a straight-A student and very much loved by her community, and she was the love of her family's life.
After losing her mother, Julie made appointments with both her mother's and Chelsea's neurologists. Julie was concerned because she had always been told that a seizure would not harm Chelsea, nor was it dangerous other than the risk of hurting herself from a hard fall. She had also been told that she should never be left alone in a pool or bathtub because if she experienced a seizure, she could drown. At both meetings with the neurologists, Julie was told she had absolutely nothing to worry about-it was a fluke that her mother had passed after a seizure and her death was probably related to her heart. So, Julie and her family went along on their merry way...
In January 2009, Chelsea was going through a change in medications. Nothing she had taken in the past five years had given her complete seizure coverage, and she was going through the medicine dance to find the right one. She became somewhat unstable, and at that time was experiencing a tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure almost weekly during these medication changes. Chelsea also experienced absence seizures, another form of epilepsy, which could best be described as blank stares. Chelsea's parents found that she would have fewer absence seizures in the morning if they were able to get her medication into her an hour or so before she was on her feet. On the morning of April 19, 2009, Chelsea's father headed to Chelsea's room to administer her morning dose and found her in bed not breathing. It was obvious she had passed away hours before, so there was no emergency service that would have made a difference at that time. Unless someone has lived this horrific nightmare, there are no words that can explain this pain and how their lives as they knew it ended that unforgettable morning.
After losing Chelsea, her family knew they needed to do something in her name to make a difference. The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation was created, and they began the mission of raising public SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) awareness as well as raising funds for seizure-response dog grants. In time, they began providing Emfit movement monitors to those who could not otherwise afford them. Had they known to be concerned, they would have, without a doubt, had every line of defense they could find in place for Chelsea in hopes of being alerted to a night-time seizure. They believe strongly that they might have been able to save her life. Chelsea's first night-time seizure was the one that took her life. The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation has heard story after story from families who do have these lines of defense in place who believe they have saved their loved-one's lives because they were alerted. Even if Chelsea's family had not been able to save her life, they could have at least been with their baby as she crossed over, and she would not have been alone.
These what-ifs have almost destroyed Julie and Doug Hutchison. Helping to educate reluctant neurologists is one of the biggest challenges in spreading SUDEP awareness. Doctors seem to believe that discussing SUDEP adds stress to an already stressful situation, so they avoid it. We believe knowledge is power! Both Chelsea and Julie's mother were low risk in every category. Parents who have children with other disorders and diseases understand the risk. Why should epilepsy be anything different? With the National news of the passing of Disney's actor Cameron Boyce to SUDEP, requests for assistance have dramatically increased.
Organization name
Chelsea Hutchison Foundation
2009
Tax id (EIN)
27-1317638
Category
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
Post Office Box 630048US
CO, US
Phone
303-250-7739
Fax
303-484-3338