The power of connection.

As someone living with Epilepsy, I never truly understood what it meant or how much it could do in terms of outreach and support until I experienced it. As those of you who read http://www.brainthunders.com know, I’ve only been writing this blog for a few months. So, I must admit, my connection to the Epilepsy community was limited up until December 1, 2009. I was never a member of any e-communities, I didn’t blog about Epilepsy or seizures. And, unless someone emailed me because they were referred to me by my neurologist or my neurosurgeon, I never spoke about my contacts in the Epilepsy community. And, I didn’t really share my experiences. I was just a Mom and a wife. I had a corporate PR job which allowed me to work from home (rare, I know). And, I did my very best to take care of my  health. It just so happened that I had Epilepsy.

I was and still am very active with the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan as a volunteer and donor, and I know quite a few people who are part of that organization, but…my connections ended there. My medical needs have been met. I am thrilled with my neurologist and I have gone through my surgeries. So, unlike so many people out there who are fighting this fight, I am satisfied for the moment. But when I made the decision to begin the website, I began to get involved in various e-communities and chat rooms. I logged on to some of your blogs and sites and I stumbled upon various non-profits that are cropping up.

I once was a person living with Epilepsy, who never really believed there was much connection or outreach, but I’ve since changed my mind…but just a bit. I do believe there are resources out there, and we can connect. But I’m not yet convinced we are all on the same page. I think we are a community divided, but that can change if we just connect with each other through websites such as this one, Facebook, Twitter or The Epilepsy Foundation’s e-community site. Share your stories and your information. Be a friend to someone who might need the support. Virtual help is possible!

I hope someday, we can have a centralized site where we can post information on all Epilepsy-related websites and blogs. If you have dollars to you want to give, you can refer to the site and make a conscious decision as to where to direct your dollars by viewing all of the various Epilepsy-related sites.  I think it would be so helpful to the Epilepsy community, and it would help us all strengthen our connections!