EYC - Epilepsy Teens

New Video by the Epilepsy Foundation Youth Council of Colorado

jodyk — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:16 +0000

Check out this fabulous new video by the Epilepsy Foundation Youth Council of Colorado about living with epilepsy!

Surgery Helps 7th Grader Beat Seizures

jodyk — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:55:32 +0000

Surgery can help to stop seizures-read about one student’s decision to have surgery to try to stop the seizures he had everyday, with over 200 of them on some days. You can check out his story here.

Join the National Youth Council!

jodyk — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:17:43 +0000

The Epilepsy Foundation’s National Youth Council is currently accepting applications! If you are between the ages of 18-24, and have a passion for being a leader in the epilepsy community, we want YOU to apply!

Get more information about applying for the Council here.

Epilepsy Won’t Stop Cross Country Runner

jodyk — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:54:20 +0000

Epilepsy and diabetes haven’t stopped cross country runner Noah Reimer from doing his best. Read more about it here.

Washington Township Teen Wins Award

jodyk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:28:18 +0000

Washington Township teen Ashley Myers has won an award for her dedication to epilepsy research. Read more about it here.

San Antonio teen with epilepsy keeps on fighting

jodyk — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:25:45 +0000

Sixteen year old Delaney Mendoza hasn’t let epilepsy get in the way of being a stellar fencing champion. Read more of her story here:

Teen fencer hangs tough in bout with epilepsy

Having a Sibling with Epilepsy

Brandon — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:59:26 +0000

At first, it was a shock. A hard shock. Suddenly, we were thrust into a world of medicines and doctorsand specialists and EEGs and video monitoring, and, oh yeah, seizures. That was the hardest part. Watching my little sister have a seizure was nearly impossible for me. I would get enough of an adrenaline rush to make sure she was in a safe position and to call for help, but after that, I would break down. I couldn’t believe my little sister, MY SISTER, was suffering like that. I was angry, I was sad, I was confused. Our family didn’t know what to do.

That’s when my family decided this diagnosis wasn’t going to be the end of our world. In my mom’s words, “If we were going to be in this club, we might as well be the presidents!” My parents and my little sister took to this much sooner than I did. My parents threw themselves into research and doctor discussions and seeking out local groups. They got involved with the local Epilepsy Foundation affiliate, the Greater Cincinnati Epilepsy Foundation, and my sister began to help with outreach. They almost embraced the change, using their struggles to help others.

I, on the other hand, had a big problem adjusting. I mean, this was my sister, snatched from her happy, perky life, and thrown into a crazy, unpredictable world of seizures. Naturally, I was upset. But slowly, as I began to see how much she was advocating, how much she was getting involved, how much she wasn’t letting her diagnosis stop her from moving forward, I saw things differently. I saw that epilepsy wasn’t my sister. She was still the bright, happy, bubbly, little girl that she had always been. She was this advocating, outreach machine, and here I was having a pity party.

The moral of this story is, if you have a sibling who has been diagnosed with epilepsy and you feel angry or sad or confused, you aren’t alone. But at the same time, you can’t let it consume you. I was lucky enough to be blessed with such a caring, giving sister, that it was easier for me to see that. Now, I fulfill my job as the sibling of someone with epilepsy. I support. I advocate. I get involved, just like my sister does. I listen to her cry when she gets frustrated, and I do my best to congratulate her when she succeeds at advocating. So, that is my challenge to all the siblings out there. Stand up. Be a rock. Love your siblings, and remember, epilepsy is not who they are, and you should never, ever make it that way.

For judo competitor, vision is not important

Brandon — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:24:11 +0000

Being blind and having epilepsy hasn’t stopped judo competitor Tony Johnson from training at the U.S. Olympic Center for the International Pan American Games. Read more about his exciting story here:

Original Article from “news-record.com”

Our new site has launched!

Brandon — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:21:44 +0000

If you’re seeing this, welcome! We’ve launched goeyc.org, the spot for young people with epilepsy! Explore, have fun, let us know if there’s something crucial that you need that we’re missing, and talk about epilepsy with others.

The Members of the EYC

Being a Girl With Epilepsy

kate — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:32:18 +0000

When I was 18, I went to the gynecologist for the first time. We discussed putting me on birth control and what would be best for me. I had told her all of my medical history and what medications I was on, so she started looking up birth control pills I could take that wouldn’t interfere with my medication for epilepsy. She then gave me some suggestions, and I called my neurologist to check with him. I ended up going back and forth between my two doctors for about three days until we found birth control that was right for me. I’m now taking Depo Provera subq - a shot I’m given once every three months. I’ve been on it for two and a half years now, and I haven’t had any problems. Those three days were a major hassle; between voice mails and calls during class, I was stressed out. I’m glad I went through with it though - taking the wrong medication could have provoked another seizure, something I was not willing to let happen. I learned that there are a lot of birth control options that would interfere with my medications. My advice: check and double check with your doctor any time you consider taking birth control, or any new medications.