I discovered something I’ve been saving for nearly 8 years. It’s a wire chest full of get-well cards and notes that people sent me in early 2003 when I got sick and received my diagnosis of encephalitis and meningitis. There are literally hundreds of cards, emails, photos, notes.

This is an open question for all of you with college-aged kids, or kids who are approaching college-age. What are your options? Have you consulted with your neurologist(s) regarding this question? Do you know of any universities or small private colleges with programs?

An aura is described as ‘a distinctive feeling or some other warning sign when a seizure is coming’. For those of us who have auras, they can be so different, and that’s both good and bad.

Speaking up and speaking out CAN help. With 3 million people in the U.S. living with Epilepsy and nearly 50 million people around the world, we can stand up and be noticed!

Epilepsy is one of those illnesses that sort of has tentacles. If you are suffering, you tend to bring others down with you, whether it’s with their concern or their care; but, only the ones who deeply care and want to, or already do understand the condition.

We never conceal my Epilepsy from our daughter. As she grows, I haven’t been quiet about the fact that other parents are not in agreement with this approach. But, as I’ve said, it’s the way we have chosen to tackle parenting when one parent lives with a chronic disease.

I had the most amazing experience Tuesday. It was something I had on my ‘to-do’ list for some time now. I visited Camp Discovery, the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s 5 day-4 night summer camp for kids with Epilepsy.

Did I lose my job because of my Epilepsy? I hear and read that people feel they have lost their employment due to their seizures, and it’s something I have considered for months and months. Could they have? Would they have? Was it my seizures that led them to tell me there was no longer a spot for me?

I was told that one of my daughter’s friends will not be able to come over to our house for a play date because of my ‘situation’ as it was termed. The mother does not want to expose her child to ‘anything scary’, i.e. a seizure.

Living with Epilepsy is featured in an upcoming episode of Health Corner on Lifetime.