I Am More Than Epilepsy

My name is Natalia, and I am 14 years old. I was diagnosed with epilepsy in kindergarten after my teacher pointed out some signs of seizures to my parents. I was having absence seizures at first but then had my first tonic-clonic seizure when I was 8 years old. I remember walking downstairs for breakfast and then just blacking out and having a very weird, vivid dream. I continued to have seizures until July of 2020 when I found the right medicine that works for me and keeps me safe. I take medicine daily and I am now 4 years seizure-free.

Living with epilepsy most of my life has been hard. For a while, I kept it to myself because I struggled with what other people would think of me, and I am sensitive about it. Epilepsy felt like a burden to my friends and family, even to myself. I remember in 7th grade, my school counselor told me “Natalia you are not your condition, that’s just a tiny part of you. And you don’t have to tell anyone, but if you have the courage and you choose to do so, and they can’t accept you for that? Then they aren’t seeing the real you.” 

I have found people I can trust talking to about epilepsy. Sharing my journey feels t like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I feel like I don’t have to hide because I know it’s part of who I am. I am more confident and care less about what people think. Dealing with epilepsy can be hard, but it does get better. The Epilepsy Foundation has helped me by showing me that I’m not alone, and I want other people with epilepsy to know that too. I am thankful for the Epilepsy Foundation and all they do to help and support people with epilepsy.

I’m a dancer, I ride horses, and I play the flute. I don’t think you should let epilepsy stop you from doing what you want to do, or where you want to go if it doesn’t have to. Epilepsy is something that is part of me and will always be a part of me and who I am, but it is not the only part of me.