So You Know You're Not Alone

When I was 2 years old, I was diagnosed with generalized idiopathic epilepsy. My mom was with me at daycare when I had my first seizure. She was holding me when I lost consciousness and almost fell. When I was sitting in my car seat, I had a tonic-clonic seizure. I had convulsions, lost consciousness, and threw up. I had my first EEG then, too. 

When I was 3 years old, I had a seizure that lasted an hour. My oxygen dropped to 80. They gave me manual ventilation to help me breathe, and it took them two hours to get my oxygen back up to normal levels. Through the different stages of life, I have had to switch medications and doses. 

Throughout my journey, education was challenging. During elementary school, they wanted me to be in special education classes, but my parents talked to the administrators because they didn't want me to be segregated from other students. They hoped that I could develop social skills and function with average students. My teacher had a handheld radio to talk to the nurse. During that time, I also had trouble finding the right medication. One made me walk funny, and I couldn't talk right. In both junior and high school, I made the honor roll. 

I will be 26 this year, and while my seizures are no longer tonic-clonic, I have absence seizures. I still have to make difficult choices about my medication. I have been working at a retirement home as a waitress for almost eight years now, and I enjoy doing things such as art, cooking, and baking.

I wanted to share my story to let others know they are not alone and so that I don't feel so alone. Don’t let others choose your destiny. Set your mind on something and go for it.