Chris has no memory of the seizure that saw him collapse to the floor on holidays, crashing into a bench and fracturing his spine in four places.
He doesn't remember the second seizure he had on the car ride to a nearby public hospital.
It's a small mercy Chris is thankful for, but it's a memory that will stay with his partner, Beth, a nurse, forever.
Chris has no history of seizures and felt fine up until he collapsed, leaving the couple unsure of what to do next.
"We were really worried," says Beth.
"I didn't know if he'd have another seizure and hurt himself further, and at that time, we didn't know why it was happening.
"At the first hospital we attended, they said it was probably from heat stroke and eventually sent us home."
Beth trusted her instinct and was referred to the Neurosciences team at Epworth Eastern Box Hill.
Chris was admitted to Epworth Eastern hospital and made contact with Dr Moksh Sethi – an epilepsy and seizure specialist at Epworth Eastern.
Dr Sethi met Chris and Beth within 24 hours, performed a detailed clinical assessment, assembled a care team to run a series of tests on his brain and heart, and organised an expedited outpatient plan with follow up tests and appointments.
Often these assessments are performed in an out-patient setting, unless the patient is still suffering seizures. It is preferable, and safer for patients, to see an epilepsy specialist after a first seizure while they are in hospital and have a diagnosis or a clear expedited plan.
"If you've never had a seizure before, and it happens, it's incredibly scary," Dr Sethi said.
"Usually for friends and family who witness the seizure, and then of course for the patient when they understand what has happened.
"First seizures often happen without warning, or patients don't know what signs to look for because they've never experienced a seizure. They main thing they want to know is why the seizure happened and if they will have another one."
"We also want to rule out things like a brain tumour or heart problem that can sometimes present as a seizure like event."
Epworth Eastern already has a First Seizure Clinic (Epilepsy Network Australia) on site and will soon begin providing an Inpatient First Seizure Assessment Pathway (IN-FIRST) which will be a "one-stop shop" for patients who have experienced their first seizure.
IN-FIRST will enable patients to see an Epilepsy specialist or other specialists, and undergo all essential initial tests, including an Electroencephalogram (EEG), within their 24-48 hour admission.
This would facilitate an early diagnosis and treatment plan, significantly improving on the current reality, where most patients face months of uncertainty while awaiting an outpatient assessment.
Like Chris, they will be seen as an in-patient at Epworth Eastern in Box Hill and be assessed by dedicated specialists.
Now recovering at home, Chris says having access to a team of treating doctors, including Dr Sethi, was a very reassuring experience - though one he hopes never to repeat.
"I still don't know what caused those two seizures, and we may never know. But the team ruled out anything sinister, which really helped put both our minds at ease, and knowing we had the right contacts if we needed to speak to someone" he said.
Despite her medical training, Beth says seeing her partner so vulnerable was incredibly difficult, and naturally she wanted to do everything she could to find out how to help him, should he experience another seizure.
The couple have now purchased smart watches as an added layer of protection, which they hope will alert Beth if Chris has another seizure and falls.
The First Seizure Clinic at Epworth Eastern, led by Dr Sethi, offers outpatient appointments within two weeks and the Inpatient First Seizure Assessment Pathway (IN-FIRST) will be formally launched in the coming weeks.
