Lisa’s Story
My name is Lisa and I have epilepsy. It all started at the age of 25 while I was working in October, 2017. I started to have a seizure, lost consciousness and fell hitting my head on the counter before falling to the floor. Next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital (4 days later). After that, I started suffering from seizures on a weekly basis. But over time and lots of tests, I was given the opportunity for left frontal lobe resection surgery. January 2021 I went in for it. Seizures can still surprise me but, I now know when they are coming and have time to sit myself down. They don't last as long as they did before and I'm back to me once awake.
Epilepsy can change your life tremendously. I lost a lot of my memory after surgery and it took a lot of tries to find the right medication for myself. But even though I feel like I missed out on life, when I look at the big picture, I’m so blessed and lucky to still be here. Epilepsy has given me the chance at being a stay at home mom for my 4-year-old son, stronger wife for my husband, and much more time with my family. A strong support system from my close friends and family is always there for me and helps me get back on track.
To help me remember, I write a lot of things down and make alarms on my phone. My family also helps me a lot with whatever I need to be reminded of. I’ve also found that social media is a great place for help! I’ve made friends locally and around the world to people who go through the same as me. Talking about it with friends helps with finding ways to get through seizures and feelings easier.
Staying positive is hard to do, I won’t lie. But this is when I found the things that mean the most to me. Music, food, my son laughing. Everyone has something different that makes them happy. It may take time to find something helpful, but don’t be afraid to try new things.
The courage of those living with epilepsy,
inspires us and fuels our journey.
Your gift will help us to continue on the road toward an epilepsy cure.