DATE: Monday, March 31, 1997                TAG: 9703310107

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   38 lines

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . JACK PEARCE'S EFFORT TO END HIS EPILEPSY

In 1976, Jack Pearce Jr., a traffic engineer for the city of Norfolk, stepped off the curb on City Hall Avenue and smacked his head on the side of his car, leaving him with epilepsy. Then in 1995, surgeons removed a 6-ounce piece of Jack Pearce's brain in an effort to cure his seizures. He became only the second person to have the surgery in a Hampton Roads hospital.

Jack Pearce hasn't had a seizure since his operation in August 1995. If he doesn't have a seizure by August of this year, doctors will consider him completely cured, he said.

Despite having some brain tissue removed, the only thing that has changed is his seizure-free lifestyle.

``Everything's been great,'' Pearce said. ``I haven't had any problems at all.''

Pearce, a former traffic investigator for the city of Norfolk and a private investigator, just started a new job in consumer investigations.

He also appeared with his surgeon, Dr. Partington, on a local TV station in December to discuss his surgery.

``I'm still getting phone calls,'' Pearce said.

``I guess I'm kind of like a spokesman for this type of surgery.''

Pearce said he's also been spending a lot of time driving in his Ford Explorer.

He hasn't been able to take any big trips yet, however, because he used much of his vacation and sick time when he had surgery.

Pearce enjoys driving so much, he's even happy to ferry his teen-age stepdaughter and his wife from place to place. ILLUSTRATION: RICHARD L. DUNSTON/File photo

Jack Pearce has not had an epileptic seizure since undergoing a 1995

operation to remove brain tissue. Doctors say if his condition

continues until August he will be considered completely cured.

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