Mother invents safety mat for children with epilepsy

JACKSONVILLE, FL (WTLV) -- Joshua Duce loves the Florida Gators, Spider-man, and Spongebob Squarepants. Like many six-year-old boys, he's a happy kid, playing and laughing with a Wii controller in his hand.

Sometimes the active boy just stops cold. He has drop seizures and they happen more than 20 times a day. His brain just shuts down.

Joshua's mother, Danielle, decided she needed to control the many bumps and bruises. So she came up with the Safety PlaceMat, right in her own garage.

Now she's a working stay-at-home mom. She's making life safer for her son and other children with epilepsy . And she's making life less stressful for her.

"I can't think of anything more rewarding than to be at home with your child and to be able to start a new business," said Danielle Duce.

The mat now goes everywhere Joshua goes.

"He has one at school," said Duce. "We keep one in the back of our car for restaurants, we have one just about everywhere."

The Safety PlaceMat has changed their lives, and little Joshua's too.

"We can have our dinners and our breakfast and lunches together. I can allow him to sit at the computer. I can allow him to do his puzzles on the coffee table without having to worry about any serious injury. It just gives us great piece of mind."

The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida is hosting a meet and greet to celebrate National Epilepsy Awareness Month. It's Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Seven Bridges Grill in Tinseltown. The event runs from 5:30-7:30 a.m. It costs $20 if you pre-register online, or $25 at the door. Appetizers and drinks are included. Click here for more information on the event.

If you are interested in starting your own business, click here for USA Today's special report on Starting Your Own Small Business.

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