Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., aka hip-hop artist Lil Wayne (33 years old), was recently taken to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska after suffering from epileptic seizures, forcing his jet to make two emergency landings.
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Epileptic seizures are a brief episode of signs or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. The effects can vary from uncontrolled jerking movements or can be as subtle as a momentary loss of awareness. There are many different reasons why people can get seizures, including illness, brain damage, or abnormal brain development.
Tim Schmitt, a spokesman for the Omaha Airport Authority confirmed that the plane safely landed, but medical treatment was refused. Once the plane was refueled, Lil Wayne got back on the plane and continued his flight to California. Shortly after his departure, the rapper had another seizure. The aircraft was forced to land once again and take him back to the Creighton University Medical Center, where he received treatment and spent the night.
The press and many of Wayne’s fans are wondering why he initially refused medical treatment. For Wayne, the seizures may not have been cause for alarm. In 2013, he confirmed in an interview with Los Angeles radio station Power 106 FM that he has epilepsy, saying in the interview, “I’ve had a bunch of seizures – y’all just never hear about them.”
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Although young adults are less likely to get epilepsy and seizures, it can develop in any person at any age. Statistics show that 1 in 26 people will have epilepsy in their lifetime and overall more men experience epilepsy than women.