Summer Safety

If you are anything like my family, you love the summer because of the long summer days spent at the pool.  But... when you have epilepsy, or you live with someone with epilepsy, swimming can become a stressful or even dangerous activity.

I'm not going to tell you that you should or shouldn't go swimming.  I will tell you that I still like to go swimming and we do it often.  Whether we go to our local swim club for a fun, sun filled day; or whether we go to our local water park- swimming is NOT something I can give up because of my epilepsy.

Here are some safety tips to help make pool season less stressful:

1. If swimming at a local pool, wear a bright bathing suit so it's easier to be seen.  This is what I do so my parents have an easier time seeing me if I am swimming with my friends.

2. Let the lifeguard know that you have seizures.  They can keep an extra set of eyes on you.

3. NEVER swim alone. NEVER. EVER. !

4. Wear a life jacket. (I don't wear a life jacket at our local pool, but I do wear one when I go in the wave pool at the water park).  Honestly, this is something I HATED because my friends didn't wear them.  I felt like I was different for having to wear one.  Then one day, my friends put one on too just so I wouldn't feel bad.  Sometimes, if my parents are right there in the wave pool, I don't wear one.  My parents are assuming the responsibility should a seizure occur...

5.  Tell your friends you are swimming with that you have seizures.  Explain what your seizures look like so they can help you if needed.

6.  Don't swim in lakes or the ocean unless you are wearing a life jacket. Period.

If a person has a seizure in the water:

1. Support their head to keep their face out of water.

2. Get them to safety (land)

3. Check airway and breathing, start CPR if needed and call 911. If CPR is not needed, position the person on their side until they wake up.

Be smart. Be safe. And enjoy your summer!

Who Am I?

getting ready for my dance recital, 6 months before my first seizure

goofing with my brother, one month before my first seizure

4 hours after my first seizure

two months after my first seizure

starting Kaitlin's Cauze, 4 months after my diagnosis of epilepsy

pitching in softball 6 months after my diagnosis of epilepsy

riding roller coasters 2 years after my diagnosis of epilepsy









and finally...

me today
graduating intermediate training class with my service dog in training

Take a good, long look at all of these pictures.  Do you see anything different from picture to picture?  Can you tell the difference between the "before" epilepsy and the "after" epilepsy pictures?  No?  That's because I'm still the same person I was BEFORE I was diagnosed.  Nothing has changed about me, except I now have epilepsy.  I don't look different nor do I act different (unless I'm actually having a seizure:).  I am still ME. 

I am still a daughter, a sister, a grand daughter, a niece, a cousin, and a friend.  I still like chicken nuggets, hotdogs, pizza, tacos, and ice-cream.  (I'm still a picky eater too:)  I can still play sports, swim, play in the snow, ride horses, and ride roller coasters.

I still get good grades, but I do work harder to get them.  I can still play drums and keyboard.  And I can still sculpt in my weekly art class.

There is no need to feel sorry for me or treat me any differently.  What I have is not contagioius.

People with epilepsy are no different than people without epilepsy.  People with epilepsy are no different than people with other disorders or illnesses.  In fact, people with epilepsy are doing amazing things every single day.

Epilepsy is one of those prevalant disorders; chances are at some point in your life, you will know someone who has seizures.  1 in 10 people will have at least one seizure in their life and another staggering 1 in 26 people will go on to have epilepsy.  That one person could be you, your best friend, your family member, your co-worker...

Learn the facts about epilepsy because you NEVER know when you may be called upon to help someone who is having a seizure.

Hello to Rick Harrison:)

Cool news today; my mom's friend is in Vegas and plans on taking a trip to a Pawn store.  I'm sure you know the one I'm talking about, they do a tv show called Pawn Stars.  I personally don't watch the show, but my dad is a big fan. (I'm more into the paranormal tv shows:)

Anyway, my mom asked her friend, that if she has the opportunity and gets to meet Rick Harrison, to send him my way; to Kaitlin's Cauze blog.

Mr. Harrison grew up having epilepsy and he was featured in the last edition of Epilepsy Advocate. 

I am hoping Mr. Harrison will visit Kaitlin's Cauze on the web and take a few seconds to sign my guestbook.

Mr. Harrison, thank you for being an advocate.

Love,
Kaitlin

Texting All Teens!!!!

Are you tired of your parents nagging you about taking your medicine?  Are you wanting to take more control of YOUR epilepsy?  Do you like texting?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, READ ON...

The Epilepsy Foundation has made it possible, through funding from the Centers for Disease Control,  for a texting service to be implemented for teenagers with epilepsy.  The program, called Care Epilepsy, is a text messaging support that is availabe to teenagers with epilepsy.  It is designed to remind you to take your seizure medication and will also send motivational messages via texts, to help you stay positive and help empower you to take control of your epilepsy.

If you would like more information please contact:

Temi Aregbesola at taregbesola@efa.org or Jody Kakacek at jkakacek@efa.org

You can also call: 301-918-3478 or 301-918-3722