Derrik Trezza

When Derrik was 12 years old and in the 6th grade, he had his first tonic-clonic seizure in the middle of gym class. Epilepsy came with no warning into Derrik’s life and made a permanent home. Derrik manages daily living with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) with the help of his family, medical team, and school community. “I’ve had no choice but to accept it,” he says. “Through epilepsy, I’ve learned a ton and I am still learning. Learning about myself, my limits, and how I sometimes need to work harder than normal to get to my goals.”

Derrik plays on his high school football team, the Randolph RAMS, as the long snapper and a defensive end. He also throws a javelin, discus and shotput for the RAMS track and field team. He finds time for recreational sports as well. He intends to further his athletic endeavors and potentially play on the collegiate level when the time comes. The quick thinking and reaction time of his family, coaches and teammates have kept him safe from injury on multiple occasions when tonic-clonic seizures have struck without warning. He is aware that many individuals in the general population are unsure of what to do in the event of witnessing a seizure and wants to help change that.