What’s The Story?
Hello and Welcome to my blog!
Did you know that each year, over 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with Epilepsy? In 2006, when out of the blue I experienced my first Grand Mal seizure, I was completely unaware of this statistic. I honestly didn’t even know what Epilepsy was. Since then, I have encountered trials and tribulations that I would have thought were beyond my level of strength. I’ve lost count of how many seizures I have had, but each one has brought with it the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to claim this life as my own. I grew weary of waiting for my life to be everything that it wasn’t. I was sick with worry that my life would never fully be MY life, the future that I had dreamed of, until I was rid of this thing called Epilepsy.
But today, I am here to tell you that although Epilepsy has many difficult facets, is has truly proven to be a catalyst for growth for me! It forced me to re-create myself & the life that I wanted. It taught me how to find peace and beauty in the smallest and most ordinary things in life. And it showed me how to be thankful that I am actually still alive!
Some of my years with Epilepsy have contained the very darkest days that I have ever known. But today, I have been seizure free for over 7 years! There may come a day when I do have another seizure. With this diagnosis we come to simply expect another one, don’t we? But I now know that my life will continue, with or without another episode. I will still be alive and my life will still be my own to live. And that, readers, is the biggest blessing of all!
What Will I Find Here?
In this blog I hope you will find a sense of belonging, hope, and a growing list of resources at your disposal. When I began navigating my way through my Epilepsy diagnosis, I was completely lost. Everything in my life changed; from what I ate, to what concerts I went to. From repeatedly losing my drivers license and having to take the bus or rely on others for transportation, to constantly carrying medications with me and being militant about taking them on time. From advocating for myself professionally, to learning to read my body & the warning signs of a seizure. Absolutely everything changed and it was scary and isolating.
So I want to share my experience with you! I don’t have all the answers, but I have more now than when I first started out! If there is advice you need, or an experience that you’d like to share, please contact me or comment on the blog posts. I would love for us all to be able to learn from each other’s experiences & to lift each other up as we conquer the ups and downs of Epilepsy.
Is This Blog For Me?
Do you have Epilepsy? Do you know someone that does? Do you have a diagnosis other than Epilepsy and want to find ways to advocate for yourself or make your daily life more simple? If you answered yes to any of these, then YES! This blog is for you! Epilepsy shows itself in many different ways, and does not discriminate on who it affects or when it will show up, so this blog will be for everyone! No matter if you have had only 1 seizure, 200 seizures, or have been seizure free for 10 years, I sincerely wish for you to find hope and feel welcome here.