Poetry About Epilepsy

Dear friends, I recently came across some poems from a friend of the Foundation that I would like to share. The poet's name is Alyssa D'Amico. Here is an introduction from her, followed by her poems: 

 

"When I was 6 years old I caught a virus that was going around the class. It lasted for seven days with very high fevers. Unfortunately, when the fever broke, I had the first seizure. That is a day I still remember. The first hospital tried to do a spinal tap several times and nobody knew what was going on.

 

"I am now 26 years old and have dealt with seizures for 20 years. The doctors have tried many different medications and combinations. None have worked 100% and many have devastating side effects, which may interfere with quality of life as much, if not more then the seizures themselves.

 

"I had the first surgery in 3^rd grade and two in 8^th grade. The last, which I was awake for, helped most, but again not 100%. A vagus nerve stimulator was put in 2012.This helped greatly. Most times I can stop a seizure from happening or generalizing. Again, this is not 100% So, I am still hoping.

"I went on to complete a Bachelors in Psychology and continue to write poetry. I am interested in helping others like myself. I hope my poetry can do this by letting them know they are not alone and can continue with their life and dreams. It is also important to bring more awareness to people who do not have epilepsy and are not familiar with it. Unlike other conditions, epilepsy still has a stigma attached to it. If people had more knowledge about it, they would understand more. What I want to say is never give up; stay brave and strong, because there is a cure waiting for all of us. Stay happy and move on with your life. Sometimes that can be difficult but put effort toward it and carry on.

 

"All the poems written below were written at different points of time in my life. I hope you enjoy them. Have a great day."

 

         

EPILEPSY

Epilepsy is a part of me

You can take it or leave it

Because it may not go away

As a matter of fact,

It may be here to stay

Am I ok? Yes I am!

You tell me how my chemistry is

What was that?

I’m jerking around

Dropping down ain’t the best of sounds

Stay strong

There is nothing wrong

Epilepsy is a part of me

Which makes me unique

In a different way

Keep my head up

And never give up

Cause winners never quit

Quitters never win

And I chose to be a winner

Never forget everyday and every way

We get better and better

 

ACCEPTANCE

What is there really different to see?

About anyone, including me

We are all just the same

Some who have epilepsy are or were in fame

All people are unique in their own way

And there is nothing more to say

 

SEIZURE TIME

A seizure

Doesn’t please ya

Like a body teaser

Fall to the ground

With no sound

Shaking round and round

People looking down

Thinking what they see

Just let that person be

Don’t get too close

This ain’t no joke

As a matter of fact it’s no good

Call 911 like you should

Stop having your fun

Try and help!

Or else that person can just melt

And

Have no more life or health

 

 

HARD to ESCAPE

It is hard to escape

When feeling in outer space

How will life be?

What is wrong with me?

I am blinded and cannot see

Fear can sometimes be near

At this point, it is all up to you for what to do

Medication can be noticed

Side effects can show

How many fingers do I see?

You put up one, but I see three

Fuzzy vision

Viewing double

Another delusion

Making up stories

Seizures out of control

Not having a say

Make that headache go away!

Suffering everyday

But don’t give up today

A cure is waiting to be found

Doctors searching all around

To figure out what to do

Hospitals can make you feel alone

When in real life

Others are there that do care

Everyone waiting for epilepsy to go and stay away

When feeling in out of space

It is hard to escape

 

 

POSTICTAL

“Was I mean?”

“Do I know everything that is seen?”

“What happened again?”

“I don’t remember that.”

“You must be kidding?”

Feeling nervous, hyper and barely aware

Now I’m scared!

Moving my head in all different directions

Not sure of what I see or say

“Did I… Did I have…”

“Where did you say?”

“That’s where you want me to go?”

“Nooo…”

“Leave me alone!”

“I don’t care!”

“It was just a stare.”

“No ordeal, lets gets real.”

“Wait, was I mean?”

“Did I go against the team?”

“Am I a normal human being?”

 “I don’t know where to be?”

“Not sure, I see…”

 “Just bring me home and not leave me alone, waiting for a room.”

Here comes another week of doom

 

 

UP and DOWN

Did the levels go up?

Or head down?

Is it causing depression?

Making the person go through confusion

Not fully aware of what is going on

Feeling like all that is done is wrong

Randomly falling asleep

Turing dreams into life

Hearing fake voices speak

Suicide and self-abuse

Will that hurt?

Wondering why certain things had to happen

Could life change and get better or is that unreal?

Hallucinations standing there

Getting unsure about the real world

Forgetting what was about to be said

Spelling left the persons head

How did that happen?

Aggression building up

Now it is time to fight!

Ready to get physical?

Tongue twisted

Staring off

Feeling bare

Colors showing up in the air

And like nothing is fair

Or levels going down

Making a seizure happen everyday

The person feels that there is no more to say

Being in and out of the hospital

Admitting knows the person

The name rolls off their tongue

Not knowing what to do

Raise this, lower that, put another on, take that off

How about a diet?

Is it time for surgery?

Life, what is there to do?

Getting interference while at work

Seeing fuzzy

Gaining weight

Losing weight

Not thinking straight

Wishes wanted

Will they eventually come true?

There is help for the person

Having seizure after seizure

Something needs to be figured out

It is time to check the levels

Did they go up?

Or head down?

 

 

 

ALONE

Drop to the ground

With no sound

Surrounded by darkness

And

Not a person around

To help with these twitches and turns

Times running fast

You never know how long a seizure could last

Hours are too long

Someone come before life is gone

Sent to the emergency room

With people all around

Barley able to understand a word or a sound

Going into a deep sleep

And

Woken up alone in bed

Wondering what happened

Until noticing the hair became ultra-long

And

Is all different colors: red, blue, green and yellow

These wires run tests

To help find which treatment is the best

How long will it take?

No one knows

An EEG can last hours, days or weeks

But try and remember to have no fright

And that everything will be alright

Believe in yourself

Don’t lose faith

Something will be found one day

Then everything will be okay

 

 

CONTROL LOST

Neurons overactive

Moving in all different directions

Seizures after seizure

Memory lost

Waking up either in a hospital or on the floor

Barely able to walk out the door

Someone needs to be with you

No matter where you go

Whether it’s a friend or family

Medication increasing

Causing you to get down in the dumps

Side effects increasing

Not helping a bit

Just sit there and wait

For things to get straight