Epilepsy Awareness Month: I Am More Than My Epilepsy

I have had epilepsy all my life. Had an exploratory surgery when I was 7, then a gliblastnoma 6 years ago. I no longer work. I do serve at my church and show people that you can have epilepsy and a life!

I have had epilepsy since I was 13 years old, at the time they thought I would grow out of the epilepsy. I didn't I wanted to be a mother so much. I was so excited when I found out I was pregnant my husband was too. Imagine when we went to hear our baby's heart beat and the doctor telling you, that you lost your baby had a miscarriage. I blamed myself and took it hard. We tried again and were able to have a baby this pregnancy made me so sick all the time but so worth it. We had another baby and were so excited. After having this baby my epilepsy started having issues. It was hard. When I have seizures I have multiple ones in a month. I tried to just be a mother and do what I could. It started to get so bad that I lost my drivers license and had to go stay in the hospital for tests 4 times. One was a brain surgery and I was miserable. Each stay I couldn't get out of bed and had a camera on me. I didn't see my kids. They would want seizures to happen. I remember one year my seizures were so bad I would have one or two on the same day and get concussions and it would happen every week. I would have to get stitches have sores on me. I hit my head so many times I couldn't lay flat without screaming due to feeling of spinning or being on roller coster. I was told to wear a helmet. I had to go through many medications cause my body didn't do well with them. I remember the doctor saying we only have 2 more medications to try. I was so scared. Knock on wood it worked . I have to take three different seizure meds and a vns . I finally after 10 years knock on wood was able to get my drivers licenses back. Now how do I keep my life so its not just epilepsy, I spend a lot of time with my family, my sweet children that I treasure, I went to college and graduated with two associates degrees no one thought I could, I volunteer at schools, I had jobs that I loved that I enjoyed. I look as myself as normal. I love working with special needs children and adults. I love playing basketball. I don't let epilepsy get me down. I can still do what I want to.

, Thank you so much for sharing! I am so happy that they are getting closer to a successful care plan. Always remember you and your daughter are not alone. We are here for you!
Happy Epilepsy Awareness Month.
Gabrielle - Epilepsy Moderator

I am Michelle Gable I’ve had seizures since I was 6 months old later on in life I was diagnosed with epilepsy I was controlled for years then I had my daughter which is now 14 and my seizures haven’t been controlled since she was born however right now they are getting closer Happy Epilepsy Awareness Month to my brothers and sisters 💜💜💜