WHEN little Ronnie Gough was first diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy he was suffering up to 40 seizures a day.

Medication failed and even hospital consultants were at a loss – that was until parents George and Diana discovered a little known diet which has since reduced the four-year-old’s fits to just a handful a day.

Now the family from Rillington have spoken of their gratitude to nursery leaders who have them helped cope with his condition as the youngster prepares to go to primary school in September.

Malton beautician Diana said without the care and attention from all the staff at Meadowfields in Amotherby, they would not have known which way to turn.

She said: “When Ronnie was 18-months-old we noticed he would go off into a little world of his own.

“As he grew up these vacant episodes would become more frequent and finally he was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy a couple of years ago.

“Nothing the doctors tried would reduce the number of daily seizures and it was George who discovered the diet. Ever since he has been on it he only suffered between five and 10 fits a day.

“When I went back to work Ronnie went to nursery and Neil and Sarah Harper from Meadowfields have been fantastic because he requires so much attention.

“It means a great deal to know when your child has such special needs that he can be left in such caring and capable hands.”

Since April, Ronnie has been placed on a strict high-fat eating plan called the ketogenic diet.

For every meal he has carefully weighed food which is made up of 80 per cent oil or fat, which is a recommended alternative medical treatment for difficult to control epilepsy.

He is now under the supervision of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where he travels for regular check-ups.

The 37-year-old added: “Since Ronnie has been on the diet, because it is so strict, I have had to give up work again. But it’s so important and it’s made such a big impact that there was no choice.

“Until I could leave, Meadowfields looked after him, which required a lot of care and patience.

“I just want other parents in the area to know that there is a place where people can leave their children and have peace of mind.

“Ronnie is now going to Rillington School in September and it’s exciting for us, even though he has no concept of the future. Although just like Ronnie we just take every day as it comes.”