Another photograph and article about our eldest daughter and her upcoming speeches about epilepsy and Purple Day appeared in the local paper. It is surprising to me how many folks read the local news. Anyway, it has given her a little extra attention these days which tends to balance out the anxiety caused by speaking in public. Also she has been having seizures despite the antiepileptic medication she started in September which is very stressful for us all. We have been upping the dose after every seizure to find an acceptable level: no seizures and no side effects. When one of the side effects could be a potentially fatal rash, we want to make sure that we are only administering what is needed to be seizure free and raise the dosage very slowly.
As I commented in the article, it is very brave of our daughter to speak to her peers about her seizures, just as it is courageous of her to be interviewed in the paper--- everyone is going to know. With that fact comes the possibility that she will be harassed or teased for revealing her epilepsy. This was in fact, her grandparents' biggest fear. I pointed out to them though that we choose to live openly and deal with the consequences as they come. As it was Pink Shirt Day, the anti-bullying day, it only seemed right.
One of the reasons that Cassidy Megan started Purple Day was that she wanted other kids with epilepsy to know that they weren't alone. How can those kids feel part of something bigger if we are all hiding our challenges? Who will be the first to say: "I live with this. I don't like it but I deal with it."? Well in our case, it will be our daughter. I could not be prouder of her and I know her dad feels the same way. As she stated in her simple yet eloquent way," If people don't like me because I have seizures, then I don't need them in my life!" Right on, girl--- you tell them!
As I commented in the article, it is very brave of our daughter to speak to her peers about her seizures, just as it is courageous of her to be interviewed in the paper--- everyone is going to know. With that fact comes the possibility that she will be harassed or teased for revealing her epilepsy. This was in fact, her grandparents' biggest fear. I pointed out to them though that we choose to live openly and deal with the consequences as they come. As it was Pink Shirt Day, the anti-bullying day, it only seemed right.
One of the reasons that Cassidy Megan started Purple Day was that she wanted other kids with epilepsy to know that they weren't alone. How can those kids feel part of something bigger if we are all hiding our challenges? Who will be the first to say: "I live with this. I don't like it but I deal with it."? Well in our case, it will be our daughter. I could not be prouder of her and I know her dad feels the same way. As she stated in her simple yet eloquent way," If people don't like me because I have seizures, then I don't need them in my life!" Right on, girl--- you tell them!
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