Six Degrees...

Last night, I had the opportunity to meet one of my favorite people for dinner, Julie Hutchison of the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation.  The evening was made even more special when some mutual friends of ours, responding to a secret invitation (and surprising Julie completely), showed up and joined us for the evening.

As I sat there looking around at the faces that surrounded me, I couldn't help but think how small our world really is.  I overheard Steve mention something about "The Six Degrees of Separation", and it got me thinking...how had I met all the people sitting around us?  Who or what had brought us all together?  What links did we share with one another?  And what links were we making this very night?

With the help of my family (especially my amazing and talented brother, Brandon Carbaugh), I'm launching into a new project.  I'd like to examine the degrees of separation within our epilepsy community: to find our links, and trace the bigger picture.

I've decided to place Chelsea Hutchison as the center hub of this picture.  While Chelsea is no longer with us in person, her presence can be felt in the links we share.  After all, if not for her, would we have shared such a great evening with so many friends?  So, I would like to use Chelsea as the starting point, and discover where our links go from there.

What we want YOU to do--by comment, email, or facebook--is tell us who drew you into the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation.  I'd like to discover the shape of this vast web we're all a part of, and put it all together into an infographic or a short youtube video.

I hope that by understanding the nature of the bonds between us, we can help to strengthen them...and maybe even form a few new ones!

You can email me at: kaitlinscauze@comcast.net


~~~Kaitlin

Where's Your Shine?

My amazing and talented friend, Gina Restivo, just published her very first solo book called "Speedy Shines", which is available on Amazon.  Gina is also the co-author of another book, "Fly Danny, Fly", also available on Amazon.

Gina doesn't have epilepsy.  Gina's kids don't have epilepsy, either.  Yet, Gina is a HUGE voice in epilepsy awareness, thanks to the sparkle and shine of Chelsea Hutchison and Danny Stanton. Part of the proceeds from the sales of "Speedy Shines" will benefit both the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation and the Danny Did Foundation.

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation helps families who are living with epilepsy, by giving grants to help offset the cost of a seizure response dog.  They also help families who are in need of EMFIT monitors. 

Grant Recipient Devin, with his seizure response dog in training, Zoe.

 The Danny Did Foundation helps families obtain EMFIT monitors.

The Danny Did Foundation is also a crucial player in raising awareness of SUDEP and helping to mainstream seizure detection devices that may help reduce the occurrence of SUDEP.

I hope you'll show your shine by purchasing a copy (or two;) of "Speedy Shines".  It's the book that will give gifts of independence, comfort, and love to those of us who live with epilepsy.

~~~Kaitlin