Hello, I’m 17 years old. My first ever seizure was when I was 16. I never understood why people with epilepsy have to go through this. On November 30, 2023, I was in a car accident, and it’s sad to say that things changed after that. I’ve battled a lot, and it’s been hard, but I never understood why people with epilepsy should have to endure this. I was at my lowest, feeling sad and depressed. I always thought things would never be the same, but I proved my epilepsy wrong. My mental state wasn’t great, but once I told myself that no matter how hard it gets, I just need to be myself and do the best I can, I never gave up. I lost hope for a while, but reading about other people with epilepsy helped me realize that we’re not alone. We have each other. We stick together because we understand each other’s struggles. We go through battles and fight, but we never give up.
I had several trips to the hospital because my seizures were getting worse, not better. But reflecting on it, I realized it wasn’t my fault. It showed how strong I was for not giving up. I proved that no matter how hard life gets, it’s about how hard you fight to get back up. What really matters is that when you look in the mirror, you see the person you’ve always been—you’ve always been yourself, just with something new, and that’s okay. You’re not alone. You will never be alone. You have each other and your family, who will always guide you to be the best version of yourself.
My name is Hector Cuahuizo, and if there were ever a cure, I would be so happy. It would help people with epilepsy live better lives, but even when they’re down, it will never change who they are.