Don't Be Afraid to Share Your Story

I was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2008 at the age of 28. I was a single mom with two sons and the seizures came out of nowhere. The first seizure happened while I was out with my friend. I remember waking up strapped to a wheeled stretcher surrounded by paramedics. When I asked what happened they told me I had a seizure. I was so confused because I didn’t understand why I had one. 

Throughout the years I’ve had multiple types of seizures and have been prescribed numerous medications. Finally, in 2017, I was seen by an epileptologist who put me on a new medication that helped reduce my seizures. In 2019 I received my VNS implant, and my seizures decreased significantly. I still had them but just not as often. 

Unfortunately, in 2021 I had a status epilepticus that caused me to have temporary amnesia and brought back tonic-clonic seizures that I had not had in a few years. I continued to only have absence and tonic-clonic seizures until September when I had an absence seizure that led to a stroke. I was in the hospital for a week and ended up injuring myself because of a nocturnal seizure that led to me sliding out of the hospital bed. 

After my stroke, I was seizure-free for eight months. It was a peaceful time for me, and I was able to get back into my routine. Even after the seizures returned in June of 2022, I was still able to work and be happy. Epilepsy has caused a lot of ups and downs in my life, but I refuse to let it control how I live my life. I’m still me every single day. 

I recently participated in the 41-mile hike to help raise awareness about epilepsy and in support of others who are going through this too. My journey is a struggle, but I am still proud to share it. Don’t be afraid to share your story because we never know who will be encouraged or inspired by it. Continue to spread awareness and knowledge to help others learn about epilepsy. I’ve learned so much from advocates and shared their experiences. Don’t be afraid to do the same!