Throughout my life I have had many struggles and overcome many obstacles. Bullying, depression, ADD, and lots more. But my biggest obstacle that I have overcome has been living with epilepsy. I was diagnosed with epilepsy, or seizure disorder, when I was in 4th or 5th grade. When I found out I felt like I couldn’t have a normal life anymore. I thought I would have to stop all my favorite activities like tennis, music, gymnastics, and all the stuff a child loves. It was almost like my life wasn’t mine. Or so I thought.
The doctors said I should just go about my normal life as if I didn’t have epilepsy. I was still doing the fun stuff I love, but I was being wary about it. Always scared of triggering a seizure. I was so scared that I wasn’t letting myself have fun. I was afraid of others fearing me. I hated having epilepsy. I wished I could just get rid of it.
After a year of fearing and hating having epilepsy. With the doctors trying all different medications to try and control the seizures. They finally found the perfect combination that my body agreed with. I began to notice that the whole time I was still living my normal life. It was then that I realized that I could use the epilepsy to my advantage. I started telling everyone about epilepsy. Letting others know it’s not as scary as it seems.
An organization known as the Anita Kaufman foundation, a foundation that specializes in educating others about epilepsy sent a request for me to become an ambassador for epilepsy awareness. At the time I was only in 5th grade. I went to get special training in seizure first aid and recognition, and how to give public presentations to head injury groups and spread awareness in all the ways I possibly could. I gave presentations in front of auditoriums full of students, parents, and fellow epileptics. Teaching others about all there is to know about epilepsy.
I chose to conquer my fear of epilepsy and having a seizure at any given moment. Instead I accepted my epilepsy as just another part of my everyday life. In doing so I also gained a new love for helping others. So now when I have a seizure, it no longer makes me feel like an outcast. But rather an example of how you can overcome any obstacle in life, if you choose to rise to the challenge and overcome it. Later on after I moved to Colorado I became an ambassador of the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado as well as the Anita Kaufman Foundation.
I would like to say thank you to all my teachers who have helped me with my schoolwork and make sure I don’t fall behind when I have a seizure or have to go into the hospital because of my epilepsy. I want to also thank my dad for always being there for me. He is always available to come pick me up from the school if I have a seizure, even when he is in the middle of work.
Most of all, I want to thank my mom. She has been an amazing role model and adviser. She is also the most amazing mom.
The doctors said I should just go about my normal life as if I didn’t have epilepsy. I was still doing the fun stuff I love, but I was being wary about it. Always scared of triggering a seizure. I was so scared that I wasn’t letting myself have fun. I was afraid of others fearing me. I hated having epilepsy. I wished I could just get rid of it.
After a year of fearing and hating having epilepsy. With the doctors trying all different medications to try and control the seizures. They finally found the perfect combination that my body agreed with. I began to notice that the whole time I was still living my normal life. It was then that I realized that I could use the epilepsy to my advantage. I started telling everyone about epilepsy. Letting others know it’s not as scary as it seems.
An organization known as the Anita Kaufman foundation, a foundation that specializes in educating others about epilepsy sent a request for me to become an ambassador for epilepsy awareness. At the time I was only in 5th grade. I went to get special training in seizure first aid and recognition, and how to give public presentations to head injury groups and spread awareness in all the ways I possibly could. I gave presentations in front of auditoriums full of students, parents, and fellow epileptics. Teaching others about all there is to know about epilepsy.
I chose to conquer my fear of epilepsy and having a seizure at any given moment. Instead I accepted my epilepsy as just another part of my everyday life. In doing so I also gained a new love for helping others. So now when I have a seizure, it no longer makes me feel like an outcast. But rather an example of how you can overcome any obstacle in life, if you choose to rise to the challenge and overcome it. Later on after I moved to Colorado I became an ambassador of the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado as well as the Anita Kaufman Foundation.
I would like to say thank you to all my teachers who have helped me with my schoolwork and make sure I don’t fall behind when I have a seizure or have to go into the hospital because of my epilepsy. I want to also thank my dad for always being there for me. He is always available to come pick me up from the school if I have a seizure, even when he is in the middle of work.
Most of all, I want to thank my mom. She has been an amazing role model and adviser. She is also the most amazing mom.