The Mad Brain aka National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Scene:

For this scene it will take place in my living room, in front of my laptop with the company of my ever rambunctious and loyal companion, Sofia the kitten who thinks she is a guard dog.  My hair will be down, yet pushed back with a striped white and blue hair band.  I will have no make-up or accessories on except my glasses.  My clothing will be relaxed and casual in jeans and a navy blue boho shirt.  My couch has numerous pillows for comfort but also in case of a seizure, same reason for the comforters.

Script:

In today’s scene I will pay tribute to National Epilepsy Awareness Month and discuss the different forms of Epilepsy.  I will also read to everyone a post my daughter, Cassie, wrote on Facebook as a tribute to me of her own experience with my epilepsy. 

Most people here the word “Seizure and have no idea what it actually means.  My own description I have used since being a teenager, in hopes of making them feel a little bit at easier, and not to mention making them laugh, was to tell them “Picture a fish out of water, flopping around on the ground.  Now mix the fish with the little girl staring at the television from the movie Poltergeist and possessed girl in the movie Exorcist.  Now you have an idea of what a seizure is like.”  Grant you this is a bit of an odd description, but it is actually not that far off. 

According to WebMD Epilepsy is the occurrence of sporadic electrical storms in the brain commonly called seizures. These storms cause behavioral manifestations (such as staring) or involuntary movements (such as grand mal seizures).

There multiple types of seizures that being diagnosed in today’s society.  A few of those that have been discovered are:

·   Myoclonic seizures (sudden and very short duration jerking of the extremities)

·   Absence seizures (staring spells)

·   Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures)

One of the things to keep a look out with an epileptic is headaches.  If you know the person you work with or are associated with is feeling weak or stuttering, perhaps clutching their head its usually a sign they are not in a good place at that moment.  Ask them if there is anything you can do for them.  Get them a drink of water, some juice is usually a helpful addition.  Clear away anything that may be harmful to that person.  If they do go into a seizure, DO NOT INTERFER.  Let the seizure ride out and call 911.  The age old myth of an epileptic swallowing their tongue is not true.  What is more likely to be true is the epileptic will hurt the person attempting to touch them while they are seizing.  We have no concept of our strength at that time, nor of what we are doing to those around us. 

After the seizure an epileptic will be very weak and the juice will help, so will sleep.   The EMTs will check their vitals, but truthfully, unless we are actually hurt, an epileptic will want to go home, so if you know the person’s emergency contact number in order to help them get home, this would be the best solution.

Now to end this I would like to read to you what my daughter wrote as I feel this will give a true feeling from the outside of what it is like to live with an Epileptic.  “It's Epilepsy Awareness month! I have seen firsthand the difficulties epilepsy can cause a person, as I have watched my mother struggle to gain control over this disease every day of her life. I've seen her seizures, the injuries they cause, different medications she's been put on to attempt to manage them, surgeries she's undergone, and watched as this disease claimed some of her independence. I have seen her in the hospital hooked up to various machines, I have seen and intervened each time she received improper medical care and first aid, some of which almost took her from me a few times. Each event has taken its toll on her, but she never gives up. She is so strong and always fighting through this disease. I have seen her look up to the sky, and ask "is this all you got?" And then continue on to make so many accomplishments. I have seen people make assumptions and judgments about her after finding out about her diagnosis, and then seen her happily prove them wrong. She refuses to be labeled as having a disability, instead choosing to be noticed for her abilities. There is not yet one definite cure for epilepsy, but often it can be managed and controlled. Do yourself and others a favor, and educate yourself on this disease. Educate yourself on the proper first aid treatment and care necessary. You never know when it will save someone's life.” (Cassie  Cox, Facebook)

I hope this helps bringing a bit more understanding of those who suffer from this condition to the world around us.  Remember, you never know what the person next to you is going through or what their story is unless you ask.  Support National Epilepsy Awareness Month.ervened each time she received improper medical care and first aid, some of which almost took her from me a few times. Each event has taken its toll on her, but she never gives up. She is so strong and always fighting through this disease. I have seen her look up to the sky, and ask "is this all you got?" And then continue on to make so many accomplishments. I have seen people make assumptions and judgments about her after finding out about her diagnosis, and then seen her happily prove them wrong. She refuses to be labeled as having a disability, instead choosing to be noticed for her abilities. There is not yet one definite cure for epilepsy, but often it can be managed and controlled. Do yourself and others a favor, and educate yourself on this disease. Educate yourself on the proper first aid treatment and care necessary. You never know when it will save someone's life.ervened each time she received improper medical care and first aid, some of which almost took her from me a few times. Each event has taken its toll on her, but she never gives up. She is so strong and always fighting through this disease. I have seen her look up to the sky, and ask "is this all you got?" And then continue on to make so many accomplishments. I have seen people make assumptions and judgments about her after finding out about her diagnosis, and then seen her happily prove them wrong. She refuses to be labeled as having a disability, instead choosing to be noticed for her abilities. There is not yet one definite cure for epilepsy, but often it can be managed and controlled. Do yourself and others a favor, and educate yourself on this disease. Educate yourself on the proper first aid treatment and care necessary. You never know when it will save someone's life.