Israeli Media Host Hila Korach Opens Up About Son's Epilepsy Diagnosis and Family Struggles

Hila Korach, a prominent Israeli media personality and former lead news anchor, shared an emotional interview on Keshet 12 about the personal challenges her family faces following her son Uri's diagnosis with epilepsy. Despite being born healthy with no prior medical or family history, Uri developed the condition, which affects approximately 100,000 people in Israel. Korach described the unpredictable nature of epilepsy, explaining that her son's seizures manifest as sudden disconnections where he appears absent from conversations, rather than the more commonly recognized convulsions.

Korach recounted the frightening moments when Uri, during a seizure, was found wandering alone on a road, unresponsive to others. She emphasized that while these absence seizures may seem less dramatic visually, they are deeply distressing for families. The seizures can last from a few seconds to several minutes, and if prolonged beyond three to five minutes, specific medications are used to relax the body’s muscles. Despite the severity of these episodes, Korach noted that daily life generally continues normally.

Motivated by her experience and a desire to support other families, Korach recently accepted a co-chair position at EIL, the Israeli Epilepsy Association. She highlighted the emotional turmoil parents endure upon receiving their child's diagnosis, describing it as falling into a "black hole" filled with uncertainty and fear. Korach stressed the importance of providing dedicated social workers in hospital epilepsy departments to ensure parents receive immediate support and are not left isolated during this difficult time.

Her candid revelations also touched on the reasons behind her departure from Channel 13 news, linking it to the demands of managing her family’s health crisis. Through her new role, Korach aims to improve resources and awareness for epilepsy patients and their families across Israel.