Eight year old Jonty Stickland has become a comic book hero, his life with epilepsy forming the story behind a new book.
Diagnosed at just 14 months old, nothing could have prepared his family.
"It was a pretty frightening time. I'm a paramedic and to see my little boy on the ground having a seizure was something I never imagined as a mum that I'd ever have to go through," said Jonty's mother Tanie.
Jonty lives with what's called 'severe uncontrolled epilepsy'.
He experiences six different types of seizures, including what is known as absence seizures.
During absence seizures, Jonty stares into space as though he's day dreaming.
In one day alone, he can have 50 of these.
But Jonty's seizures vary greatly.
"Quite often Jonty will have seizure activity that's more a sensory overload. So, he'll walk around picking at the air and be really disorientated."
"If you saw him walking through the middle of a shopping centre doing that you'd think that kid is a bit of a weirdo," said Tanie.
Approximately 800,000 Australians suffer from the unpredictable and sometimes debilitating effects of epilepsy in their lifetime.
Jonty Stickland. Source: SBS
For the teachers and parents of children with the condition, it can be difficult explaining to them what is happening.
The book has been written by doctors from the children's medical education organisation Medikidz.
Medikidz Explains Epilepsy tells the story of Jonty, who has a seizure while playing his favourite sport.
It's been written and illustrated in a way that's appealing and interesting to a range of audiences.
It educates children about the different types of seizures and how to handle it.
"When he has a seizure and if there's anything in the way, I have to move them away so when he gets up he doesn't get hurt or bump his head," said Jonty's friend Flynn Thayer.
Another friend Liam Mcanearney also learning an important lesson,
"I go get an adult straight away and tell them Jonty's having a seizure," he said.
In the book, Jonty learns about his condition and how to navigate his world.
Just as in real-life, Jonty's had to learn his way around certain things, like handwriting.
"It's too hard for my brain to get the message to my hand, to the pencil, to the paper so I have to use an IPad," Jonty said.
And with epilepsy often comes the feeling of isolation.
"Epilepsy impacts all aspects. If we've had a horrible night up with him having seizure activity then quite often he can't come to school so he's missing big chunks of school," said Jonty's mum Tanie.
Epilepsy Action Australia has met the cost of producing the book, so that it's available free of charge.
It hopes the book will help address the stigma, discrimination and fear that's often associated with epilepsy.
"In more recent times it's certainly been mixed up with psychiatric illnesses and mental health conditions. It's important to get the facts out about what epilepsy really is," said Carol Ireland, Chief Executive of Epilepsy Action Australia.
Parting words from a suburban boy who's enjoying his new image as a superhero.
"It doesn't stop you being the same as any other person, you just need to put your mind to it."
The book is available free of charge and can be requested by calling 1300 37 45 37 or emailing epilepsy@epilepsy.org.au
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