International Epilepsy Day

Today is International Epilepsy Day.

2 weeks ago, I posted a long journal entry about Audrey's diagnosis and life with Epilepsy.  This is a link to that post.

I struggle with the diagnosis of epilepsy.  Epilepsy was such a part of Audrey's life.  For the last 3 1/2 years, Audrey didn't go a day without a seizure.

I don't have the same dread with Autism.  Mandy explained that in Heaven, Audrey wasn't sick and that she didn't have seizures.  Hannah once asked us if Audrey had Autism in heaven because "her autism is cute."  Even though Audrey, is in heaven and doesn't have daily seizures, epilepsy is still a big part of our family.



I have friends  and family with epilepsy and friends whose kids have epilepsy.  It is still a part of our family's life.

Last June, I rode 126 miles for epilepsy awareness.

In September, we did a 5k for the Epilepsy foundation.

This next March, we plan on hiking 40 miles as a family for awareness.




If this thing that haunted Audrey (and you could see it in her face, the fear that she couldn't overcome the seizure) was so bad, why do we keep acknowledging it?
 
  1. For a few reasons, friends and family who are still fighting. 
  2. To raise funds for a cure.
Hannah has taken the 2nd one to heart.  She has said (and researched the brain on her own) that she wants to grow up and become a neurologist that cures epilepsy.  

The last few Decembers before this past one, I posted information on social media during infantile spasms to help others identify Infantile Spasms.  This December, it was too much.  But since I have started writing to Audrey daily and writing my thoughts out more, I remembered that Audrey doesn't have epilepsy in heaven.  But it is still here. There is lots of work to be done.

 
There won't be any sickness because you're going to get a new, perfect body. In heaven, there will be no sadness. God “will wipe every tear from their eyes” 

(Revelation 21:4 NIV).


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