Writing a short story of hope

For me, it was at the tender age of 13, almost 14.

The disease for me certainly not so severe as for others, no. But I was a girl & I was new in school-- High School!

Those crucial years! We ALL say it! I think I persisted a good whole 18 months, finally succumbing and leaving with average grades. I also knew I could have done so much better, had I stayed and endured the cruel torment from girls my own age, girls that simply knew no better. No, it was easier to leave.

It was the early 70's, and I was bound to find a job and a career.

Today- a mother of three-- a suburban wife. Not your typical soccer mom, but suburban none the less.

Our first test of faith through loss, was the year we lost my Nanna.

Ultimately I think the moment I realised that something was brewing on our future horizons. Many times we experienced bolting lights of reality! They would seem to strike out of the blue but with such force I often wondered if we had any ‘back up reserved energy’ to see the next round!

It’s funny how many coincidences exist in each lifetime-not always pleasant ones.

For the very age I had been diagnosed with Epilepsy, in years to come, the very path would meet and carry my son.

He was 14. A loving young boy with a mighty big heart. His passions not unlike that of other teens his age. His was Football. He lived and breathed it.

It was after he suffered a terrible blow to his head, that he began having seizures. They have now lasted over 5 years. I’ve had to watch in helplessness while HE endured all the real horrors that go hand in hand with a 'fit'. Many times I could only pray in my mind for them to stop, for him to hear me as I desperately tried to reach that tiny corner in his brain.That space may have had just enough strength, to rise above the electrical storm. Only once did that happen, as his seizures worsened, so too the power of the storms. His medication changed once I finally changed doctors. His last seizure as recent as 4 weeks ago so we still have a long way to go-I say 'we', for this disease is not confined to the patient, it affects all who care for him, one way or another. The downside plain & simple: 'How does a young man adjust to a society that STILL knows so little, and simply because they themselves, are afraid of the storm?'

He tolerated all the harshness, the cruel words out of ignorant mouths-he also finished High School.

The upside: he is loved, by those who choose to know him.

This is his road which we travel together.

Because of him, I choose to learn more, and God willing – educate!

Today we aim to bring epilepsy out of the shadows so that those just like my boy, can live without fear of prejudice.