SAN ANTONIO, TX (September 6, 2023) CHRISTUS Children’s and the CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation announced the total raised in August benefiting the city’s first pediatric epilepsy surgery program.

In response to a $400,000 challenge grant from the Wade Richmond Foundation to support the CHRISTUS Children’s Epilepsy Program, CHRISTUS Children’s announced 64 generous donors contributed $841,041 to match the Wade Richmond Foundation Challenge Grant. By meeting this challenge, these donors have helped raise $1,241,041 to ensure that children with epilepsy will be able to access the most comprehensive treatment options, including surgical treatment and the entire range of diagnostic testing, in San Antonio. The first program of its kind for our city.

The Richmond Family Foundation was established in 1999 and the Wade Richmond Foundation in 2006. Between the two foundations, they have held over 56 matching opportunities, supporting 33 different organizations, and generating nearly $16 million in donations, including this match. The Wade Richmond Foundation was created in memory of Wade Richmond, who died as a high school senior from a grand mal epileptic seizure.

Epilepsy is one of the most common medical conditions in children. Unfortunately, medications only control seizures in 60%; children who continue to have seizures often cannot attend school, work, or drive. CHRISTUS Children’s has established San Antonio’s first epilepsy surgery program. In children with drug-resistant epilepsy, surgery can cure or dramatically reduce seizures in 85%. Our epilepsy surgery program is led by Dr. Mark Lee, a national expert in epilepsy surgery with expertise in assembling the specialists and complex equipment necessary for such a program.