Sharing My Story to Inspire Others
By Maggie Fitzsimmons
I am 22 years old and have been living with epilepsy for about five years. I recently graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences. I am now a first-year student at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida.
Since my epilepsy diagnosis, managing my health became a big challenge for me. As a college student, it was hard to make sure I kept my stress levels under control and slept properly. It was also difficult to share my condition with my new friends because I was constantly scared of what they might think of me if I did.
When you are scared to be open about your epilepsy, you might let it control you more than it needs to.
In time, I was able to accept my condition and use it as a source of inspiration for myself and others. Epilepsy is scary and unpredictable, so the best thing you can do is to be a constant, unwavering source of support. Becoming educated about epilepsy and having open conversations with your loved one is a wonderful way to do this. Getting involved with the Epilepsy Foundation has been a major source of inspiration for me too. I was able to connect with many incredible people who are living with epilepsy and who are fighting to make the world a better place for people living with epilepsy.
Reviewed By: Jackie Aker