I started showing signs that I would be dealing with epilepsy for the rest of my life when I was about 16.

One thing that gave me solace was the song by Joy Division, “She’s Lost Control.”  Ian Curtis, the lead singer of the band, had epilepsy, and wrote the song about a girl having a seizure. It was nice to know someone cool has seizures too.

It’s wasn’t easy back then for me to face the fact that I need pills to make me “normal.” Other people with epilepsy need a lot more than that. Locally, there’s a little boy that’s been fighting to take his service dog with him to school. This boy has to wear a safety helmet as it is, and now he has to fight to take this dog with him to school. It looks like he and his family are winning the fight, but why should they have to fight? And that’s only one family’s story.

When Doug and I went on the National Walk for Epilepsy last year, it was energizing to see how many other stories there are out there. Seizures are confusing and discouraging, but none of us are alone.

There is a lot of research to be done, and many families’ lives would be improved with more knowledge and understanding about seizures. I’ve seen new medications released and information campaigns developed in just the past 20 years, so I have faith that there are even more significant developments to come.

And I’ve got faith in you, my friends and readers… I’m going to be there at the National Walk for Epilepsy again – two months from today – on March 27. We could use your help.

1. Help by LEARNING about epilepsy. Just click over to the Epilepsy Foundation’s website to learn something you didn’t know. That will be priceless.
2. Help by DONATING to make our short walk around the National Mall count more. Click over to my walk page, then click SUPPORT TEAM DC GRRL or MAKE A GIFT.

ALSO SEE: Why I’m walking for epilepsy