Epilepsy
Living with Epilepsy and Not Becoming a Statistic
How I didn't become a satistic.
I had my first seizure at one year old. By age four I had spent over a year of my life in different children's hospitals around the midwest. When I was five years old during my first week of school I had 14 seizures in one day. I was airlifted to a children's hospital in a neighboring state that day. I always wanted to attend school with other kids "normal" kids but wasn't allowed to again until the third grade.I remember I was so excited and hopefull about re-entering school.
One week later, I had a seizure during school and then another, and another. By the end of the second week I had about 5 seizures at school. I would notice that when I would wake up from having a seizure at school my whole body seemed wet only in places and dirty. Almost like someone had thrown a drink on me or spilled something during the time I was having a seizure/unconscious. I complained to my mom about my body being sore in places. My mom decided to look at the areas I was complaining about only to find shoe impressions ( logos) and large burses all over me.( This had went on for sometime before being discovered )
Come to find out when I was unconscious the kids were beating me and spitting on me one even cut me in the cheast area. I ended up having to do homeschooling because of the problems at school. I had also been told by school staff already by the age of ten that I would never graduate high school, drive a car, or work outside the home. I said they are wrong. They don't know what I can do or what I can't do. I didn't even know at that point what I could or would be able to do in the future.
I promised myself I'd never give up and I would always try even if it wasn't realistic to try. I would at least try my best. I prayed all the time if this epilepsy would just lesson that, I would give all my blessings of health and energy towards helping other kids suffering from disability's. Around my twenties my seizures became less and less often so, after awhile I was able to begin to drive.
I got my license I started driving to G.E.D classes. A year later or so I got a modeling contract. Only because of my abnormally big eyes. Big eyes are a common trait many epileptics have. A trait I was teased about my whole life growing up. While modeling on a boat I met my future ex-husband. We married and between his support and the money I was making modeling I was able to earn a undergraduate degree in college. Then eventually a Master's Degree in Chlidrens Disability Therapy aka Pediatric Speacial Needs Therapy. That's how I did not become a satistic.
I never saw quiting as a option. I didn't listen to what others said and I always believed in myself. I was meant for more and I knew it. Now, I get to help kids like me. I wouldn't change a second of what I went through looking back. It makes me better at what I do today because I genuinely understand the kids and how they feel. I didn't read about children's disability I lived it.
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