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Don't give up

I was 13 when I was diagnosed with epilepsy I was having petit mal seizures (absence seizures) once per day and grand mal seizures (tonic-clonic seizures) 3 to 4 times a week for 5 years. During that time I pray to God every day to make them go away. The doctor told me that I would never drive, I would never work, and they wanted me to wear a helmet to school however, I didn't want to and I didn't so my doctor then told me about a new surgery that could potentially help me. So I went to have the surgery and while I was in observation they asked if I wanted to try a new medication that could potentially help, I said yes and guess what... It worked! I didn't need the surgery and that was 23 years ago! I'm now 41 years old. I never gave up. Even now I still don't have seizures though my epilepsy makes things harder for me to do, I pray and I do not give up!
đź’ˇQuestion for the communityđź’ˇ
This community member shares how they chose to lean into their faith versus giving up on themselves throughout their journey with epilepsy. Has there been anything you've particularly leaned on to help you maintain your emotional strength in your epilepsy journey? Share with us in the comments below!

  1. LOVE your story! Can you please tell me what medication you are on?

    1. Yes I have been mistaken for daydreaming or ignoring someone or not paying attention or ignoring people

      1. that's the same with me people tend to think you're ignoring the and your totally not

    2. Yes where think I’m having a dream and then I come back into reality noticed that I was just having a seizure

      1. you’re not alone! Sending well wishes, Julie (team member)

    3. . I don't remember standing in the path of the forklift area at a warehouse. I must have been standing there for a while.. someone got my attention by coming up to me and asking if I was ok.. I suddenly became aware and stated I'm fine.. why?

      1. sounds like you potentially could've been having a seizure and was unaware of it. Here's more on the type of seizures in epilepsy: https://epilepsydisease.com/seizure-types
        Hope this helps! Warmly, Kailah (Epilepsy Team Member)

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