Wendy’s Story

I have had epilepsy since birth as part of my syndrome, Schizencephaly. I have complex partial seizures and simple partial seizures with focal motor symptoms and aura. An aura is like a warning when you’re about to have seizure. My seizures last from 30 seconds to 30 mins, though I occasionally go into status epilepticus, which means having a non-stop seizure.

I also have hemiparesis static paralysis, a form of cerebral palsy with ataxia and static, and hemiplegia one sided paralysis due to stroke I had at birth. I am also blind and deaf. It isn’t easy to deal with the side effects of seizure medications, and its awkward walking sideways.

I’m still working, but epilepsy has greatly changed my life – for instance I’m not allowed to drive a car. I would love to drive my self places instead of asking for help.