I'm Sara Franklin and I live in central Alabama.
I had my first seizure at the age of 30 in August 2018.
Additional seizures followed, and I was diagnosed with epilepsy in October 2018.
It's important to me that people understand what
epilepsy is, as 65 to 70 million people around the globe are affected by epilepsy.
It's more common than Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy combined.
1 in 10 people will have a seizure at some point in their lives and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy.
There are lots of types of seizures and they aren't all convulsive.
There are things that come along with epilepsy often,
whether that's depression, memory loss,
inability to drive for a certain period or for their entire life.
The positive side though of epilepsy that I've really learned is to
not take moments for granted and to really make sure that my priorities are in line.
For me, that's my faith, my family
spending time with my husband, and being a mom of two boys.
Hi, my name is Ingrid, and I have epilepsy.
I'm not afraid to share the fact that I have epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a non-visible disability.
And having epilepsy that is active has taught me that I
can't assume anything about anybody until I've really met them.
It's also inspired me to show people what epilepsy feels like.
And I've done that some artwork and some films in the past.
What I would say to somebody else with epilepsy is not to be afraid to share your story.
I'm Josias Christian Lopez. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of one.
And I am currently 21 years old, a college student.
My saving grace has been music, and never give up,
and purple everything.
Hello, my name is Reed Jeffries.
I'm a high school senior from Homewood, Alabama,
and I grew up with epilepsy experiencing both
tonic clonic and absence seizures.
Epilepsy hasn't stopped me from making good grades, being a National Merit Scholar,
being varsity tennis captain, working in a restaurant, or going out with friends.
My seizures are well controlled with medicine,
but my medicine has caused some very unpleasant side effects.
Growing up with epilepsy has given me a lot of
empathy for other people and for what they might be going through.
Epilepsy has shown me the importance of asking for support, and supporting other people.
My name is Natalie Beavers.
I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of five,
and I've lived with epilepsy for almost 40 years now.
I had two brain surgeries. It did decrease my seizures, but I still have epilepsy.
I'm a mother of two wonderful young men.
I use my experience to start a nonprofit charity, and advocacy called angels of epilepsy.
Do not let others judge you by having epilepsy.
You are strong, you are beautiful, and you are brave.
So just be you.
Who I am besides epilepsy?
I'm Jenn Levine.
Like I am me.
I am a teacher.
I am a lover.
And I'm a dreamer.
I could say like, I'm a mom. I'm a this, I'm a that.
But like there's so much that my epilepsy has changed who I am.
I don't take things for granted.
I see you. I hear you.
Like, I feel you and I'm going to try to because I know what it's like to feel alone.
And I know what it's like to be in pain.
My empathy is so huge that it just explodes from my body.
Hello, I'm Phil Hayden, president of "Sail 4 Epilepsy."
I'm a scientist. I'm a dad. I'm a sailor and I have epilepsy.
I just dream about sailing.
It pushes you really physically, mentally. Feeling the wind, feeling the waves.
Seeing a dolphin swimming next to the boat
It's one of the few times that I am truly experiening nature.
I now want to give back to the community by helping educate people about epilepsy.
And also by inspiring people with epilepsy
to take an extra step to try and live a fuller life.