One Family’s Loss Spurs SUDEP Awareness

Jordan Buisman was diagnosed with epilepsy in May 2009 while serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps as a videographer. On November 26, 2012, at the age of 25, Jordan passed away from SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in epilepsy). To honor Jordan and educate others about the serious risks associated with epilepsy, Jordan’s mom, Lisa Riley, and sister, Bonni Walker, reached out to the SUDEP Institute for help. Together, this team crafted a public service announcement that Jordan’s friends and fellow videographers helped produce.

Through this partnership, the family reached a local TV news station, local papers, as well as a national audience through social media. Read about Lisa and Jordan, and see the PSA, in this St. Cloud Times article, “Mom, friends spread word after St. Cloud Marine is victim of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.”

While we grieve with Jordan’s family for their loss, we are grateful for their courage, partnership and commitment to spreading awareness about SUDEP and to helping prevent other families from going through the sudden death of a loved one. Lisa said, “When they told us that he had died, we were just totally in shock because we had never heard you could die from a seizure.” The SUDEP Institute’s work is committed to ensuing people with epilepsy know all the risks and what they can do to prevent those risks.

• Learn more about SUDEP and the SUDEP Institute

• Help build awareness by distributing the PSA or some of our SUDEP brochures

• If you have lost a loved one to SUDEP, join Team SUDEP at the National Walk for Epilepsy and Get Your Remembrance Flags