Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness is in 23 days. March 26th...every year. And we will wear purple, post about epilepsy and ask you to join us in support of Logan as well as all of those who live with this sometimes vicious condition every day.
But this past week I met a woman who has epilepsy as the result of a brain aneurysm she LIVED through a few years ago. As she proceeded to tell me about her experience and the multiple medications she was on it sounded all to familiar. The fear, the side effects and the injuries sustained when a seizure did break through the medication blocks in her brain.
But what I wasn't necessarily prepared for was how adamant she was about keeping the information to herself. She felt comfortable telling me because I could relate, but she doesn't want others to know. She doesn't want to be treated differently.
She doesn't want to feel the sting of discrimination.
This past week I also came across a description from a young girl who LIVES with epilepsy. It was about her experience at school and how devastating it is to have a seizure at school or worry about the possibility of having a seizure at school.
And then I read further...how the kids would bully her, knock her down and kick her in the head to try and make her have a seizure.
You didn't read that wrong. It's as horrible as it sounds. And my bet is she is not the only child living a life of fear and being outcast because of epilepsy.
The woman I spoke to has a job and a precious 5 year old boy. And the young girl changed schools and is not being bullied. But is that enough? Are there others out there who we have yet to hear about?
And why would it EVER be okay for those two people and countless others like them to be shunned, discriminated against and beaten simply because of a condition they have no control over?
A condition that ignites fear and a desire to ignore and hope it goes away.
People battle all types of demons all the time. There are countless diseases, conditions and ailments that devastate the lives of families every single day. And they all need support.
The outpouring of love and support that our family has received has been beyond what we deserve. But there is more than enough love in the world to go around.
So, now it's time to change our focus.
As hard as life may be for Logan, he has it easy. He has a family who loves him, friends who accept him and people who want to do nothing but help him.
What about those who have none of that?
What about the fear of talking about epilepsy?
What about the fact that until we raise awareness, take away the fear and support EVERYONE who has this debilitating condition, no one will get the help they deserve?
Including my little boy.
It's time.
Purple day is in 23 days.
Won't you join us?
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