Place Your Advertisement Here. All ad revenues support the mission of the Epilepsy Therapy Project.
 
Wed, 2/8/2012

Welcome to the redesigned epilepsy.com

It is now easier and faster than ever to access news, articles and community content. With less clutter and an improved navigation system, your favorite content is now only a click away.

The new features include:

  • Streamlined design with less clutter to promote important content and sections
  • New slider masthead
  • New horizontal menu across the site to ease top level navigation
  • Re-designed content pages that are easier to navigate
  • Overall new, fresh look!

Place Your Advertisement Here

Take control of your epilepsy and seizures. Seizure management has never been easier.

TAKE CONTROL TODAY

Sign up for our Newsletter!



Chanda Gunn: from High Hopes to a Vision for 2008

Chanda Gunn will always be a winner for people with epilepsy. She is a true example of how someone with epilepsy can overcome obstacles. Chanda was the USA Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey goaltender, and bronze medal winner of the 2006 Winter Olympics. We are proud to say that she is also a Spokesperson for the Epilepsy Therapy Project.

Chanda and her teammates recently competed at the Gold Medal games in Canada with Team 2007 US Women's National. Their hopes, and ours, were high. When they shut out Finland – with Chanda stopping all 13 shots – and notched three wins in four games, we were ready for the gold. Despite Chanda’s energy and the team’s talent, their game-winning streak came to an end when Canada defeated Team USA with a score of 5 to 1, earning Team Canada their ninth IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medal.


We know that Chanda and Team USA are disappointed. We read her blog and could just feel the pre-game excitement. She said in a blog entry just after arriving in Canada:

“So it's 3:00 am and I am writing to you from the Lobby of the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg. We're HERE! And I am so excited about being here, with this team, at this tournament, playing for my country against Canada tomorrow - I can not sleep (again!).”

But after the loss, Chanda and teammates were ready to follow the lead of Wayne Gretsky. After losing the Stanley Cup, he and his team doubled their efforts and went on to a win the next season.

We gave Chanda a few weeks to recover and then asked her to talk with epilepsy.com about the game – her excitement, her inability to sleep and how this impacts her health and ability to control her epilepsy. She shares her thoughts in this interview with Nonna Gale, whose daughter Kira, practices hockey with Chanda and who appears in our PBS film with her.

Rita Watson, Senior Editor


Interview with Chanda Gunn

By Nonna Gale

What were your thoughts immediately after the game?

My thoughts after this particular game pretty much followed my immediate thoughts after every game. When we lose, or if I feel as if I have had a bad game, I will think about the game and how I played, sometimes second guessing everything I did during the game. Then I just want the chance to play the game over again right at that moment because after thinking about it, I know I can do better.

I was pretty disappointed after losing the tournament. But always I look at my teammates all around me in the locker room and I am absolutely in awe of the players. My teammates never cease to amaze and inspire me.

Did you agree with the calls in this tournament game?

Generally, I am not too hard on the referee and calls that are made. It depends on the situation. However, in the case of this particular game, I will say I was pretty disappointed by some shots delivered by our opponents. I got nailed a couple of times and the calls were not there. Also, in the final game of the tournament, there was a goal that CLEARLY did not go in the net but which was indicated as a goal and allowed as a score against us. That was very disappointing and extremely frustrating to me. (The game calls are at: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/Women/2007/04/11/3981615-sun.html).

How did Coach Johnson’s pep talk about Wayne Gretsky influence your thoughts about next year?

Regardless of a particular motivating story Coach Johnson might use when he speaks to us as a team or to each of us individually, he is inspiring. He knows our strengths and potential. He believes in us. With his encouragement, my thoughts change from, "I can't believe we lost, I'm a loser," to wanting to get back to the gym, get on the bike (usually my least favorite thing to do) and train for the next game. He just always leaves us feeling empowered and excited about ourselves. That is a great leadership quality. Krissy Wendell, our team captain, has this skill as well.

This time he talked to us about Wayne Gretsky. After losing the Stanley Cup, he and his team doubled their efforts and went on to a win the next season.

With such a rigorous schedule, the demands of training, and the excitement of a world championship tournament, are you able to get enough sleep in order to control your epilepsy?

Obviously, getting enough rest and sleep is important. Otherwise, yes, I might have trouble with seizures. I want to point out, however, that it is imperative as an athlete and member of a team to do what it takes to be healthy.

When you don’t sleep at night, are you able to find rest periods during the day?

Even when I do sleep at night, I always nap when I am at training camp. We all usually sleep for about an hour twice a day. Our days are busy and very intense. We need lots of sleep in order to recover.

What is your advice to yourself about getting enough rest?

For me, in terms of sleep, I don't usually have to remind myself to go to bed. Especially at training camp, we are all tired from working out and training hard so sleep comes pretty naturally. We all need to be well rested in order to perform well the following day.

How has the right diet, medication, and exercise helped you with your epilepsy?

Proper diet, exercise, and medication are the keys to controlling my epilepsy, maintaining my health, and keeping my seizures under control. Being healthy is crucial to me, not only because I have epilepsy, but because I am an athlete. Health and discipline go hand in hand with being an athlete. I have learned a lot, and I am probably in better health because of my occupation!

What parallels do you see with winning and losing with regard to the ups and downs experienced by those who have epilepsy?

You need to believe in yourself. There will be ups and downs, wins and losses, and you need to focus in and tap into the strength within you to work hard, do what you need to do and face the next challenge. Enjoy the celebrations and believe in the strength within you to face your next challenge and meet your goals.

Edited by Rita Watson

Reviewed by Steven Schachter, MD on 04/26/07


Place Your Advertisement Here

Title Posted
Epileptic Seizure Monitor Alarm System  
onemarvy
Are these normal migraine symptoms or is there something more to it?  
xtheotherside
5 year old worsening seizures. Pls help???  
TIM_C28
Trileptal dosage  
myejk
SEN and epilepsy  
Kim Norris
possible non convulsive epilepticus?  
rayraykay
Fight with the sidewalk  
jasssmit
Focal activity followed by generalized activity but no epilepsy  
BendyPianist
Self-Management of Medication  
columbia.epilepsy.study
Feeling Like a Human Guinea Pig  
christopherpaul
View all Forums

Title Page Views
my.epilepsy.com Updates  
epi_help
topamax and weight loss  
alexia mom
kepra  
brian mattingly
Possible cure for absence seizures  
pdl1
How exactly do aura's feel  
WendyBendy
Sexual Side Effects  
George R
MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s  
picnupthepcs
Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised  
spiz
electrical shock in head?  
Maggie
Weight Gain and Depakote  
galinda
View all Forums

Title Posted
Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference  
bryan_farley
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
The Sunday Dreads  
johnverling
Giant Stuffed Animals For The Toddlers  
zacharysmith
Frederick's of Hollywood Announces the "Hollywood Love Story Contest" Valentine's Day  
cn-lightings
Seizures and medical marijuana  
seizureprone134
From muscle problems to seizures in 6 weeks or less  
ArizonaAbby
Speech at Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference -2012  
dayna
The Doors.  
BowlofMush
marijuana  
ccraven
View all Blogs

Title Page Views
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
Topomax... The Dreaded.........  
Dr Jason
Brain Zaps, tics & twitches  
JudiS
How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens?  
epl_controller
Feeling Sick  
JBJ1984
side effects of phenobarb.  
pksmom
Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds  
Butterflygrl
TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES  
cmscribbles
Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures"  
teft
newborn seizure  
Sunny_80
View all Blogs

Title Posted
Had the worse seizure of my life last night! Complex Partial  
jlamont
Self-Management of Medication  
columbia.epilepsy.study
Dravet Spectrum Disorder  
mytboy
Diving with eplilepsy  
p59
Moms of epileptic toddlers  
Xaviersmom2
Autism  
Aaron Chan
brain surgery  
jen020309
People in their 20's with epilepsy  
Mandy911
TEAM ETP  
krisj
24yr old male  
Dave24
View all Groups

Title Posted
My Story - Still Don't Know What it Means  
arobertshaw85
Help me plz. I can't go on like this  
Lindsea
For my daughter  
britni1780
Why can't I find out what is going on with me?  
dgreer27
nightime seizure  
ishaq
my grandchild with possible panayiotopolous syndrome  
krys
Please Read and Help  
WALLIGAT0R
Hello. I'm new to the forum  
Tom S.
Maxx  
MDS2006
Lyme Disease as a cause for seizures  
ssidah
View all Stories