Ozella Mabson says she did what every other mother would do.

When faced with a child's illness, she fought like a warrior and educated herself like a scholar to help her child, Mabson said.

That was 35 years ago, when her son developed grand mal seizures after he was hit on the head by sound equipment at age 31 while working in Hollywood.

She scoured medical libraries, kept a journal on his seizures and educated herself on his medications.

Not satisfied with just helping her son, she founded the Epileptic Foundation of Maui about 14 years ago with money inherited from her late husband.

"Because there were no epilepsy groups in Hawai'i, I decided to create one to help others," Mabson said. "... I just wanted to help other parents."

For her contributions, Mabson is one of five Jefferson Award winners who will be honored on April 2.

The foundation operates a 24-hour hot line to help caregivers and others in the frontlines helping epileptics. She also founded an escort service for students with epilepsy and helped create first-aid procedures for seizures.

Often you can reach Mabson herself, now 85, when you call the hot line. Last year she received the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser award by the Aloha Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 2001 she was named Senior Citizen of the Year in Maui County.

"My mom is my best friend," said her son, Glenn Mabson, who nominated her for the Jefferson award. "She attended to me very well. Often I couldn't even take care of myself."