Articles

Hey fabulous souls, it's Derra Howard, your guide in the world of style and resilience. Today, let's dive into a topic that's close to my heart – navigating life with...

Motherhood and epilepsy... Y'all, it has been a wild ride! I have made it more than a year into this world of motherhood, how crazy and exciting it has been. Everyone told...

Navigating the delicate balance between health and medication side effects is an ongoing challenge, one faced daily by many individuals with chronic conditions. In my personal journey with epilepsy, the...

Is it normal to say "I'm fine" when you're clearly not? Or perhaps it's easier than explaining your situation to those around you... I usually stay home instead of hanging...

When you're an adventurous child filled with imagination and delight, amusement parks can be some of your best childhood memories. For me, it always started with the excitement that came...

The first time I Googled "Dravet syndrome" was the day we got our diagnosis for our son Will – the first time I had ever heard "Druh-vay." The very first...

Living with epilepsy has been a journey filled with twists and turns, and the quest for the right medication is a delicate dance between hope and uncertainty. Recently, I made...

Are there certain situations that lead to your seizures? We call these seizure triggers. And the truth is, they're different for everyone. Of course, skipping doses of epilepsy meds is...

Do you like to swim? I sure do. But even as an adult going for a splash, I know it's important to have someone else present when I'm in the...

Let's talk about the amazing smell of freshly brewed hazelnut coffee. I love sipping on a cup while juggling two kids, a nonprofit, and school. It's my ultimate pick-me-up. Lately...

Seizures start from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They affect muscle control and language. They also affect vision and movement. A seizure's impact depends on where the abnormal electrical...

I had to go in for some pulmonary testing, which included the pulmonary function test. This test requires you to do 4 different breathing exercises, some of which include a...

I had always been afraid of hospitals. The smell of disinfectant, the sterile environment, the unknown — it all made my heart race and my palms sweat. Could my fear...

When I first began to go to a specific bar in Queens, New York, I did not drink alcohol because it is dangerous with AED medications and should be avoided...

A few years ago, I went to the doctor to see if I qualified for epilepsy surgery. I stayed in the hospital over 2 weeks. I did not qualify because...

We have all heard how getting enough sleep is a crucial aspect of overall health. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is important not only for your physical health...

When I was pregnant with Will, my second baby and Dravet child, I had their whole lives pictured in my head. I was an only child and was so excited...

Having side effects with any medication is inevitable unless you luck out. However, my medications really didn't start to give me any issues, per se. It was the long-term side...

When first diagnosed with epilepsy, we can't understand everything all at once – particularly what all of our seizure triggers might be. How can people figure out what triggers their...

When a neurologist told my parents in 1970 that I was epileptic, he assured them it was nothing to be concerned about, despite the fact he was prescribing a strong...