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.

Trans Siberian Orchestra donates to the Epilepsy Foundation

Trans Siberian Orchestra

Every year the Trans Siberian Orchestra hits the highway for their annual winter tour.  If you've never been to one of their holiday concerts, you are missing out on some amazing, jaw dropping, head banging music.  They have somehow managed to combine opera, orchestra, and  heavy metal into one unforgettable performance.  Highly recommend!

TSO just isn't about the talent. They GIVE back to the community. Every year, during every concert, in each community they play in, they donate $1.00 from EVERY ticket sold to local charities/organizations.  Let me assure you, they sell out the "house".  In my area, we are talking TWO concerts with a crowd of 15,000 PLUS.

This year Kaitlin's Cauze decided to contact the radio station that sponsors the TSO concert in our area.  The request was simple: please consider choosing the Epilepsy Foundation of Central PA as a recipient of this year's donation.  What better way to raise epilepsy awareness than in front of a crowd of thousands?  WINK 104's John O'Dea came through and the request was approved! 

Our local Epilepsy Foundation has been notified and will handle the details.  We are hoping the news of this donation was a  nice surprise for them. We appreciate what the foundation does for the epilepsy community and this is our way of saying "THANK YOU".

If you live in the area, make sure you catch one of the concerts at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA on November 20th.  Make some noise when the check is presented! Maybe we'll see you there!