THE past 25 years have proved to be difficult for Rob Anderson, who regularly experienced epileptic seizures which proved difficult to control.

This was until April last year, when the ‘phenomenal’ team at The Walton Centre carried out a what has proven to be a life-changing procedure.

Based next to Aintree Hospital, the centre is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services.

It offers specialist treatments for complex disorders to patients from all parts of the country who have been referred there by their GPs.

Grappenhall resident Rob underwent a temporal lobectomy at the site, and since then he has experienced no seizures.

He is sharing his story now during Epilepsy Awareness Week, and he is hoping top give back to the amazing teem that has given him his life back.

“The Walton Centre team made absolutely sure the operation was the best course of action for me and my epilepsy,” the 47-year-old explained.

“For the last two decades or so I have been working with them to bring my seizures under control.

“I experienced partial complex seizures which have landed me in hospital a couple of times, and at one point I was in intensive care because I could not stop having seizures.”

Rob was experiencing status epilepticus – a seizure that lasts longer than five minutes or having seizure after seizure without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes.

Before the operation, Rob had two years of investigations at The Walton Centre to locate the area of the brain where his seizures started.

The human factors engineer said: “These investigations meant that I had to stay on one of the wards several times so that they could monitor me and any seizures that I experienced.

Rob Anderson and his wife Kate are raising vital funds for The Walton Centre

Rob Anderson and his wife Kate are raising vital funds for The Walton Centre

“The anticipation is a little stressful, but the clinical team around me were so attentive and reassuring.

“Only by going through these investigations could The Walton Centre team determine where my seizures started so we could take the next step.

“I had to give up my driving licence 10 years ago, which was incredibly hard, but the potential of having a seizure while driving was too risky.

“Since the operation, the physical and mental recovery, which is just as important, has been difficult, but this surgery has given me such hope for the future.

“What The Walton Centre has done and continues to do for me is phenomenal.”

To celebrate Rob’s recovery, he and his wife Kate are walking from The Walton Centre to Warrington to raise money for the hospital’s charity.

Kate said: “With everything Rob has been through and the support that The Walton Centre has given him over the years, we just had to start fundraising.

“Epilepsy has had a massive impact on our lives, and I think some people do not understand that because it is an invisible condition.

“Sometimes it felt hopeless, but The Walton Centre was always there. We feel incredibly lucky that we have this specialist hospital in our region, and we had to celebrate that.”

Rob added: “We wanted to do our bit to say thank you and we have been amazed with all the support we have had so far. We cannot thank everyone enough.”

If you would like to contribute to Rob and Kate’s fundraiser, visit thewaltoncentrecharity.org/fundraisers/walton-centre-to-warrington-walk