“We are not asking for a perfect life. We are asking for the chance to help our daughter live one.”
That is the stark appeal from Rasa Pocevicien as her family races to raise funds for specialist medical care abroad. Thirteen-year-old Amelia Pocevicien from Duleek is living with a rare form of epilepsy, prompting her parents to launch a public fundraising campaign to bring her to a hospital in Barcelona for comprehensive testing and a treatment review, the Meath Chronicle reported on October 30, 2026.
The family, originally from Lithuania, have made their home in Ireland for the past 17 years, raising four daughters—Alteja, Amelia, and twins Fausta and Rebeka—in County Meath. Amelia was just four and a half years old when doctors diagnosed her with Jeavons syndrome, a rare epilepsy condition characterized primarily by eyelid-fluttering seizures. What initially looked like a minor tic quickly revealed itself to be a lifelong neurological hurdle.
Living With Jeavons Syndrome in Duleek
For the first few years, Amelia’s symptoms remained largely confined to brief eyelid fluttering. However, the condition escalated significantly when she turned eight, bringing her first tonic-clonic seizure and fundamentally changing the family’s daily reality.
Now a first-year student at Ballymakenny College in Drogheda, Amelia battles both absence seizures and eyelid-fluttering episodes. These sudden events disrupt her ability to concentrate, retain information during classes, and move through the school building safely. Over the years, medical professionals have cycled her through multiple anti-seizure medications and dosage adjustments. She currently takes two types of medication, yet the seizures persist without warning.
The unpredictability has taken a heavy toll on everyday life. While Amelia loves swimming and singing lessons, her health has forced her to step back from activities she enjoys. Meanwhile, her parents grapple with constant anxiety regarding her physical safety.
“I know she’s a teenager. I know that I need to let her go out with friends, but I’m so terrified of that,” Rasa said, describing the constant worry of potential falls and injuries when Amelia is away from home.
The Search for Specialized Care in Barcelona
Frustrated by local neurology services whose primary response has been increasing medication doses rather than securing targeted referrals, the Pocevicien family took matters into their own hands. After researching international options, they connected with a specialist hospital in Barcelona.
The clinical team in Spain has outlined a diagnostic roadmap involving an EEG, a CT scan, and genetic testing to pinpoint specific characteristics of Amelia’s condition and refine her treatment plan. The initial estimate for the consultation and tests stands at approximately €7,000, excluding flights, accommodation, and additional travel expenses.
Both parents work full-time, but the family lacks the personal savings required to cover the out-of-pocket costs of the trip. Confronted with mounting expenses, they set up a GoFundMe appeal to shoulder the financial burden.
The family acknowledges that Jeavons syndrome is lifelong and does not expect a miraculous cure. Their immediate goal is far more practical: getting the seizures under better control to safeguard Amelia’s physical health and restore her emotional wellbeing.
“At least get it under control,” Rasa said.
