Epilepsy Advocacy: Speaking Out and Making a Difference

Why I speak out and advocate It was the first time I’d been in a meeting of this large of a group of adults (25). I was in my early thirties and was wearing my jeans and tennis shoes. Others where wearing suits and dresses. They clearly and freely expressed their thoughts, some more adamantly…

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What Is It Like To Have Epilepsy?

What is a seizure? A seizure is sudden abnormal electrical impulses in a group of cells within the brain and is defined as local or generalized. There are six (6) types of defined generalized seizures that include Grand Mal, Myoclonic, Absence, Atonic, Tonic, and Clonic. A person having a seizure may convulse, collapse, have muscle spasms, loss of…

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I’ve Been Diagnosed with Epilepsy – Now What?

I opened my eyes and it was dark.  Hmmph, this smell is different. Where am I? Why am I here?  Heck, this isn’t my bed. What’s going on? I was confused and lost. All of a sudden, “click” & bright ceiling lights come on. I quickly place my hands over my eyes. A grayed hair man in…

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Staying Strong with Epilepsy

I have epilepsy. Most all of the seizures I’ve experienced brought ramifications into at least one, if not all of, the different aspects of my life: self-esteem, social interactions, health, employment… It is, at the least, debilitating to have a seizure. And none are as breathtaking and humbling as those “off guard” close calls with death.…

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Telling Your Children You Have Epilepsy

Which of us parents want to tell our children we have epilepsy? If medicine is controlling our condition and we’re not having seizures plus they haven’t seen one, why should they be told? And what can we say if they do witness us have a seizure? Ironically, on the night our first daughter was born; I…

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Thankful To Be Okay: An Epilepsy Incident

The Epilepsy Incident As I’m regaining conscious, I am thinking “is Thanksgiving dinner ready?” All of a sudden, it was so bright, my eyes were squinting. I couldn’t open them. I felt someone touching my head. Then I heard, “I’ve got the last one in”. I was gently pulled up from laying down, my body…

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Sharing the Challenges of Epilepsy

It was a beautiful day and I’d just finished playing in about 4 to 5 outdoor basketball games. Since the sun was soon setting, everybody began collecting their gear and walking to their cars. I didn’t have my license at the time so I got on my 10 speed bicycle and started heading back to…

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Epilepsy in the Open

Above the yard to paint this home, my first time on a hydraulic lift. Why were we on the ground? Need to go up, to finish the work. My friend told me he’d had to grab hold of me, for I was getting ready to collapse over the side, no basket around this lift. He was…

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