We recently held our 2019-2020 Annual Meeting, as we transition our Board of Directors and Professional Advisory Board.  Also, part of our Annual Meeting is our Client Award presentation. Our Client Award is presented annually to an Epilepsy Association client who has made significant achievements in overcoming issues related to having epilepsy. The 2020 Client Award recipient is Sharon. Read more about Sharon’s story and success below. 

Living with Epilepsy

By: Sharon Irby

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about living with epilepsy is, “Who doesn’t love a good roller coaster ride?” More dips, loops, sharp curves, slow climbs, fast drops, and upside-down flips than you could have ever imagined.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy in February of 2015. I went to bed one night and woke up 5 days later from being in an induced coma due to uncontrollable seizures. It was more life altering than I could have ever imagined. Epilepsy caused my life to do a complete turn and did not ask my permission, my opinion, or how I felt about it. My first turn, I asked when I could return to work.  My doctors answered, “Ms. Irby with the amount of damage on your brain you’ll never be able to work again. I strongly suggest you apply for Social Security”. It was also no longer safe for me to live alone with my daughter, who at that time was 9 years old, and we had to move in with family.

I developed epilepsy due to having inflammation on my brain which has caused me to experience memory loss, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. As you could probably imagine this was quite an emotional roller coaster ride. You would think the people who know what’s going on with you would be the most supportive, compassionate and understanding. 

I felt alone until I was introduced to an organization that literally saved my life– the Epilepsy Association. I was able to meet people who were sympathetic and compassionate to that wonderful roller coaster ride I mentioned earlier. They gave me comfort while experiencing the most uncomfortable times in my life. I honestly believe that if I didn’t have my case manger and the other staff members at the Epilepsy Association that I would have given up on life.

Today my youngest daughter and I live in our own apartment. I’m finding out who I am with epilepsy. This fall I will be enrolling in college and I will be returning to my passion which is community engagement. I may have epilepsy, but epilepsy won’t stop me from reaching my goals and living a great life.  My name is Sharon Irby, and I wasn’t built to break. I was built to last.

To hear more from Sharon, and to watch her YouTube video, click the link below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umcZLO2uoyE&t=1s

Claire’s journey through Epilepsy began around the age of 6 years old. She started with “drop attacks” and at the time we thought she was just playing games with her brother in her highchair while she was eating and drinking. As the drop attacks continued we had a feeling that it was no longer a game anymore. We immediately took her to see a seizure doctor and it was then that the medicine game started: Keppra, Lamictal, Onfi, Banzel, Ativan, Epidolex, Trilastin, and the Ketogenetic diet just to name a few.  Over a period of time Claire’s seizures had gotten progressively worse. After many EEG’s, MRI’s and the countless EMS rides and ER visits we were referred to a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic. 

Her seizures went from drop attacks to focal, absentee, and then the myoclonic, tonic clonic seizures and during this time Claire was rapidly losing weight. After numerous EEG’s and MRI’s we were told that Claire has slow wave continues spikes and by this time we were up to our 18 medicine and running out of options it felt like.

Then, her doctors told us our worst fear, she has LGS (Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome) a rare and severe form of epilepsy. When the doctors told us of the diagnosis we asked a thousand times: “Are you sure?” How could our daughter get so severe so fast? But we learned in cases of LGS there isn’t an associated condition present and the cause of the disorder is unknown.

It was then suggested that Claire would no longer be able to walk or stand, and would be wheelchair bound forever. We had to order a helmet because the seizures were causing numerous bruises and injuries to all parts of her body. As a parent of a child with epilepsy, you try to do what’s best for them even though you second guess yourself all the time. 

It was suggested next Claire undergo surgery to have the VNS (Vagus nerve stimulation) device implanted to help with the seizures. That quickly turned into our worst nightmare along with several medications that caused severe breathing issues and skin rashes. The VNS paralyzed my daughter left vocal cords causing her to choke and not be able to breath. This left her with vocal cord paralysis. The condition has continued to take more and more from our daughter, and by this point we didn’t know how much more our daughter’s little body could take or as parents how much more we could endure as a family!

The struggle was becoming all too real for our family. Then, yet another setback, she lost her ability to self-feed and became G tube dependent. Our lives are like a rollercoaster ride… every day is an adventure but through all trials and tribulations we will continue to fight epilepsy, together, as a family. We have become advocates in educating schools, families, aides and nurses and most of all the community. I frequently tell people that epilepsy speaks volumes too just like those with other conditions. You are not alone in the fight against this (sometimes) invisible illness.

We are extremely thankful for Claire’s aides and nurses who’ve helped us with our battles, struggles and tears. Through it all, Claire, remains to have a beautiful smile and her strength to keeping going—she is truly amazing and for that she is not only our hero but a true epilepsy warrior!

Raymond M. is a current student in graduate school. Over the last several years he has learned how to persevere through his diagnosis, and now aims to help others going through difficult times. 

Prior to my epilepsy diagnosis, I had taken the ability to learn for granted. Being able to learn is a gift, and it was not until my neurologist put me on a medicine that worked for me that I would regain the ability to do so once more. When I began high school, it was then I began to experience a series of seizures. During this time, I was forced to bear the woes of epilepsy alongside a revolving door of medications.

Between the memory loss, the mood swings, and the seizures, I always felt broken. In addition, my body was dangerously losing weight as a result of the medicine. This later led to a lack of appetite and a malnourished appearance. If this was not enough, every day I dealt with a barrage of epilepsy jokes. Needless to say, high school was abysmal. Without my support system, I have no idea what would have become of me.

It was not until my senior year of high school that things began to turn around for me. At this point, I was put on a medication that would change my whole life. Upon being put on Depakote, I was able to work on bringing my grades up to a point where I could meet college expectations. At this point, things were looking up. It was through learning and experiencing things that I could not experience otherwise that I regained a newfound sense of confidence. This confidence can best be summed up in what my life looks like today.

Since the grim days of my epilepsy diagnosis, I have earned my spot in graduate school, studying clinical mental health counseling at Malone University. While recollecting the suffering that I had to endure as a teenager, it is my greatest hope that I can continue to work towards becoming the person families need as they confront their trials. In the end, my greatest bit of advice to those that might still be suffering is to talk about it. When I concealed it, I experienced so much inner turmoil that nobody deserves. As I began to share my story, it was then that I could begin to heal while helping others heal in the process.

Anne has been a longtime friend of the organization, and has recently celebrated 20-years of being seizure free. Take a glimpse into her life now, and how she has gotten to where she is today.

 

There is the saying “hindsight is always 20/20” which proves to be very true.  My new saying is “life lessons can become clearer in the rear-view mirror”.

I had my first seizure at nine months old.  It was triggered by a high fever with the illness known as roseola (baby measles).  It rocked my parents’ world and their most dreaded fear became a reality.  Their perfect baby girl would have epilepsy.  Every normal milestone for others was a day of fear for my parents:

• The first day of pre-school
• The first day of elementary school
• The first friend
• The first sleepover
• The first school activity
• The first camp weekend
• The first band trip
• The hormonal changes
• High school
• Dating
• Going away to college
• Getting my first home
• Getting married

As each milestone in life was taken, the fears grew stronger because of what else might happen if a seizure occurred.  I had many seizures at many different times in my life.  Some were uneventful and some were quite eventful.  After each, I would be ready to deny what happened, pick up the pieces to move on and pretend that it never occurred.  My parents could not do that.  For every seizure that occurred, my parents’ lives were changed.  Each and every day was approached with caution and prayer that it would be uneventful.  As I got older, my anger for their over protection and fear got stronger and their frustration with my reactions was heart breaking.

Then, one day it happened.  While in rehabilitation after having a stroke, my dad had a grand mal seizure while sitting at the table with me.  I wanted to take the fear off of his face and tuck it away.  I held him and I wanted him to stop shaking.  I wanted him to stop biting his tongue.  I wanted to stop the seizure.  I wanted him to snap back to normal.  After 8 minutes, it stopped and I held on to him and tried to tell him it was going to be ok.  It wasn’t ok.  I realized the pain and fear of those who have to be the caretakers of those with epilepsy. Looking back, it is a job that no person would ever sign up for, but God Bless the parents, the siblings, the families, the friends, and the volunteers who do and who do so with love

We recently held our 2017-2018 Annual Meeting at our offices for our transition of the Board of Directors and Professional Advisory Board.  Also part of our Annual Meeting is our Client Award presentation. Our Client Award is presented annually to an Epilepsy Association client who has made significant achievements in overcoming issues related to having epilepsy. The 2018 Client Award recipient is Carolyn. Read more about Carolyn’s story and success below. 

 

Carolyn is a native of Cleveland and grew up in the area. She has had a long and challenging struggle with epilepsy throughout her life, beginning in elementary school when she had her first seizure and was diagnosed with the disorder. Attending school as a child with frequent seizures was extremely difficult for Carolyn, and despite being on medication, she continued to struggle with the stress and anxiety of unpredictable seizures and living during a time when epilepsy was even less understood than it is today.

As an adult, Carolyn was still struggling to independently manage her epilepsy and mental health concerns which interfered with her ability to care for herself. She came to the agency for case management services 15 years ago and was seeking out services that would help her be able to learn skills to better manage these issues and gain some stabilization in her life. At the time, Carolyn was homeless and needed support in finding appropriate housing that addressed all of her needs.  She worked with Linda, one of our case managers, who was able to help her get housing situated and begin to build a relationship that would be trusting, supportive and helpful. In addition to being connected with permanent housing so many years ago, Carolyn has learned many new skills as an open client to the agency. She has received crucial assistance to help her manage her daily life such as advocacy with medical providers, assistance with carrying out daily tasks, occasional crisis management, epilepsy and mental health education, and learning important coping and self-management skills. Carolyn’s feelings of loneliness have also decreased as a result of her receiving agency services because she is able to feel supported and heard and can reach out to her case manager when she needs guidance.

Recently, Carolyn has made some great strides in her ability to step outside of her comfort zone and participate in some new programs as a result of her growing confidence. She agreed to participate in the Community TIME program at Epilepsy Association where she learned new skills for epilepsy self-management and well-being. She also spoke with first-year medical students from Case Western Reserve University who come to our agency as a part of their first-year field experience. She shared valuable insight and information from a patient perspective as a person living with chronic conditions. Being able to speak as an advocate for herself and share her own experiences about her epilepsy and mental health is a huge step for Carolyn, and we are very proud of the progress she has made. Congratulations Carolyn for your award and success over the years!

“Receiving services continues to help me feel supported and cared about.”- Carolyn

Like last month’s post, we want to share the story of our second Featured Family. This story is from the Wilhelm family about how epilepsy has affected their lives. 

It was five days before Kurstin’s first Christmas, which also happened to be the day that she turned eight months old; she had just fallen asleep next to her mother on the couch. Kurstin was snuggled into a onesie, sleeping with her flower baby blanket and her bear that she called baby. Like any other typical night this was the setting in our house as we were getting ready to go to bed. Her older brother Ian was already asleep and the house was quiet. This was also the first time that epilepsy entered our lives.

Kurstin was the happiest baby I had ever seen in my life. She would rarely ever cry, and her chubby, rosy-red checks always seemed to have a smile on them. She made parenting seem easy. She had the ability as a baby to project that same joy she had onto the rest of her family members. At eight weeks old she had her first surgery and all I can remember is a day and a half of her being irritable before she went back to her old happy ways. When we were asked by the Epilepsy Association to write this piece, it was emotionally tough to do so and to go back and remember the joy and happiness that used to fill Kurstin’s life.

“John, what is she doing?” I still remember my wife Sarah asking me in a panicky voice like it was last night. Kurstin’s whole body began to shake and convulse. I picked her up and started to call her name but she was unresponsive to me. She started to foam a little from the mouth, and we called 911. I remember my wife asking me if it was a seizure, in which I had no clue because I had never experienced it firsthand. Needless to say it wasn’t our finest moment; we were a scared mess. When the paramedics arrived we described to them what happened. They asked us how long it lasted, and we told them that it was at least ten minutes long, not knowing back then to time her seizures. What was probably two minutes we thought were ten that felt like an hour. Like a UFO, epilepsy had suddenly descended into our lives, and we had no clue what it was.

Today Kurstin is eight years old and loves to nurture and play with her baby dolls pretending to be their mother. Her doctors have been able to do an amazing job of finding the right mixture of medicine to help control her epilepsy. Occasionally she will still have a break-through seizure, so our guards can never be down, but the seizures are considerably better than earlier in her life when she was experiencing multiple ones on a daily basis. Kurstin’s epilepsy has delayed her learning and has caused her a lot of confusion, which oftentimes can come out as anger. This has not stopped her from having a really big heart for others. At the end of every school day, she will help the other students with putting on their coats, tying shoes, and getting book bags ready to go before she even gets her own set to go. She is especially drawn to helping other special-needs children. Kurstin has two very supportive siblings. Her younger sister Olivia, who is seven years old, is her main playmate and will lie next to Kurstin and watch movies in Kurstin’s bed while she sleeps after she has had a seizure. Olivia does not like to leave Kurstin’s side after an episode to ensure that she will be okay. Kurstin also has an older brother Ian, now fourteen years old, whom she also adores. Watching her go through this has been hard on him, and the older he gets, the more of an active role he takes upon himself to watch out over her. Kurstin has been an inspiration to our family. She has never let epilepsy slow her down. It has never made her lose her determination; she just pushes forward when she has had every excuse as to why it would be ok if she didn’t.

We are very excited for this opportunity that the Epilepsy Association has given us to be able to use our story as a vehicle to raise awareness, funds, and anything else we can do for the epilepsy community because we have come to find that it is truly a community. In addition, Kurstin has her own Facebook page run by her mother that we have accomplished a few things through: letting people know how she is doing for the people who have followed her story; raising awareness for epilepsy through a social media platform; and reaching out and connecting with other people who have epilepsy and helping out however we can. Kurstin’s mother, Sarah, has used her job as a platform to raise awareness to the public about epilepsy and has done her part in fundraising as well. Our family has donated our time and worked with organizations such as Unite This City and A Special Wish in similar efforts. Our family is excited and would like to thank the Epilepsy Association for giving us another opportunity to once again be able to fundraise and spread awareness in the 13^th Annual Winter Walk on Saturday, January 27^th at South Park Mall in Strongsville.

 

To donate to Team Kurstin, click here.

Every year at our Winter Walk, we choose one or two families to headline the event. These families, called Featured Families, are nominated by themselves or by another person because of their commitment and courage while coping with epilepsy. This year we have chosen two families to headline our 13th Annual Winter Walk. Here is a story from one of the Featured Families, the Watson family, about how epilepsy has affected their lives. 

 

We are the Watson Family: Don, Monica, Hannah, Ben and Molly. Our son, Ben, is a typical 13- year-old eighth grader. He is very involved in Boy Scouts and 4-H and loves cheering for the Buckeyes, the Cavs and the Cleveland Indians. The summer of 2013, when Ben was 9 years old, he was in his first year of 4-H and showing a sheep as one of his projects. Ben was struggling to maintain control of his animal and we were getting frustrated with him for often appearing as though he was not paying any attention. He would stop talking mid-sentence, his eyes would flutter and it was apparent that he was completely “zoned out”. Having worked in health care, I recognized he was either having a seizure or had developed some sort of tick. We headed to Akron Children’s Neurodevelopmental Science Center for an EEG and Ben was diagnosed with absence seizures. Essentially Ben’s  4-H sheep was the first to figure out his seizures, as Ben would have control, then his grip would relax during a seizure and the lamb would simply walk away from him, without Ben being able to figure out what had happened.

We initially made the mistake of handling the diagnosis by simply thinking here is our diagnosis and here is the treatment medication, so no big deal, it will all go back to normal. We quickly discovered that epilepsy was not going to be such an easy journey. Ben had numerous negative side effects from his initial medication and was struggling with anxiety and depression at only nine years old. We knew we needed more help to understand, cope and manage his seizures. Thankfully we were introduced to another local family, the Dillon Family, who have supported us and offered some guidance including introducing us to the Epilepsy Association.

Today Ben has been seizure free for about 2 years and as he enters his teenage years, we will see where this journey leads us to next. Currently, and every year since our diagnosis, we work with the Dillons to organize and host a Dine to Donate Event in Wooster for Purple Day and we take part in this Winter Walk to help spread awareness. We proudly talk about our journey and continue to learn about epilepsy, while promoting more awareness. We have been amazed by how many people we talk to know someone with seizures, have had them in the past, or who are continually searching for support and understanding in dealing with their diagnosis. Our 20+ year old cousin, Danielle, who lives near Buffalo, NY, also has epilepsy and it is endearing how she has rallied around Ben, supporting him at every turn and participating in Epilepsy Awareness events in honor of herself and Ben. We are so excited to be selected as one of the Featured Families for the Winter Walk this year, so that we can continue to get people talking to raise awareness. Ben doesn’t look like a “sick” teenager, but epilepsy has certainly not been an easy journey and we know others will benefit from what we have learned if we are willing to talk about all of it. The Epilepsy Association has certainly helped us with this, as they have continued to spread awareness and provide education about the condition and given us the resources necessary to combat the many challenges associated with epilepsy.

 

To donate to Team Watson, click here.

Editors’ note: In recognition of our 26th Annual Gala and Epilepsy Awareness Month, Epilepsy Association Board President daughter, Allison Karlovec, shares an insider’s view of the elegant and wonderful evening of November 3.

 

On Friday, November 3^rd, over two hundred and thirty guests, clothed in elegant cocktail dresses and suits, gathered into the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center for the 26^th Annual Epilepsy Association Gala. The Gala, held every November in recognition of epilepsy awareness month, raises public awareness about epilepsy and funds for the Epilepsy Association’s local programs. My father, Jeff Karlovec, is President of the Board, and my little sister, Julia, has had epilepsy since she was two years old, so this event is something we look forward to every year; my sisters and I start searching for dresses months in advance.

The evening began with a cocktail hour outside of the ballroom, with attendees examining the extensive silent auction while listening to live classical music and enjoying a selection of hors d’oeuvres. The silent auction contained over eighty items, including an array of fur coats, children’s gifts, excursion and spa packages, household goods like a Keurig, custom jewelry, signed Indians baseballs (which I always beg my dad to bid on) and CAVS and Indians tickets. The silent auction was open throughout the evening, so even during dinner, we kept checking on the baseballs to see if we had been outbid yet. In addition, there was a wine pull raffle, where you could purchase a wine cork with the chance to win a bottle of wine valued between $20 and $200. There was also a photo booth station set up with an Epilepsy Association banner as the backdrop, and a fun bucket of hats and masks to pose with.

After the cocktail hour, we were summoned into the ballroom for a gourmet dinner, which was proceeded by the agency’s Legacy Award presentation. The Legacy Award is given to a medical professional who has made outstanding contributions in the field of epilepsy, and this year’s honoree was Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez, MD, PhD, a distinguished neurosurgeon in the Epilepsy Center at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Gonzalez-Martinez, who completed medical school at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, explained in his acceptance speech how he moved to Cleveland after his neurological training to study epilepsy at the Cleveland Clinic, because there was no better place to be than Cleveland for epilepsy. He stated that Cleveland is still the place to be for epilepsy. After he said that, I thought of how fortunate my little sister Julia is, and others affected by epilepsy in the Northeast Ohio region are, to have access to one of the best hospitals in the nation, one that is continuously making tremendous strides for the evaluation, medical, and surgical treatment of epilepsy in children and adults.

The Epilepsy Association also gave special recognition to fourteen-year-old Macey Dillon, who received this year’s Youth Humanitarian Award. The award honors an outstanding young advocate, and Macey proved that she was just that, having demonstrated extraordinary commitment and effort in raising awareness of epilepsy and supporting the Epilepsy Association. Macey’s story is so inspiring: she was diagnosed with epilepsy in kindergarten, and has struggled with the cognitive, memory, and emotional issues associated with the condition ever since. Yet, she has persisted through all of these trials with confidence, hard work, and a positive attitude, and today is on the honor roll, a member of her school’s tennis team, and active in her church. Macey has been a strong advocate of the Epilepsy Association since 2012, and has participated in and fundraised for two of the agency’s special events: Purple Day and the Winter Walk. Her contributions to the Epilepsy Association have been outstanding; since 2012, Macey has raised over $7,000 for the Winter Walk through her online fundraising efforts, helped organize restaurant nights, and coordinated dress down days at her school for Purple Day, where she raised an additional $1,100 in donations. Macey’s strong desire to help others who suffer from epilepsy and her commitment to raising awareness and funds, while simultaneously tackling her own trials, is certainly admirable and inspiring.

After the awards were presented, auctioneer Bob Hale kicked off the Fund-A-Need auction to support the Kids and Family program. Donations ranged from $5,000 to $100, and it was a thrilling and exciting part of the evening, with attendees’ paddles bobbing up into the air while Bob rattled off the numbers at rapid-fire speed. Bob also helped with the Live Auction, where a brain surgery observation, week-long stay at a beach condo in Amelia Island, FL, and a Disney vacation were auctioned off. The Amelia Island package was so popular that it was sold three times! After the auctions were completed, everyone hurried for dessert, dancing to the live band, Driven, and a final scan of the silent auction items.

The evening was definitely a hit, and I felt a heightened sense of community as we all came together to raise awareness for epilepsy and support this meaningful cause. The Gala raised over $158,000, and was the most successful Gala ever! Perhaps we can top this year’s contributions at next year’s gala on Friday, November 9^th, 2018.

 

For pictures from the evening. please click here.

In wrapping up our 5th Annual eRACE 5K & 1 Mile Walk, we wanted to highlight an inspiring story to show the impact of the funds raised during our eRACE and other special events. Lisa S., an Epilepsy Association Board Member and eRACE Committee Member, was an eRACER who fund-raised on behalf of EA. Lisa was the top fundraiser who raised over $3,100! Hayden, Lisa’s son, is three years old and is living with epilepsy. Here is their inspiring story:

Hayden was diagnosed with a severe form epilepsy known as Dravet Syndrome at 9 months of age. He suffered from his first seizure at just 4 months old lasting 20 minutes, he spent a week-long stay at the hospital where they ran test after test trying to determine what had happened. By the time he was 9 months old he was having over 50 Myoclonic Seizures a day as well as Grand Mal Seizures every other week that could range anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours. Hayden spent much of the first year of his life in and out of the pediatric intensive care unit of the hospital. Just after Hayden’s first birthday he suffered from a 2-hour long seizure that caused his respiratory system to crash. He was intubated and taken by life flight to the hospital. Two months later it happened again this time the seizure lasted 3 hours and we nearly lost him. Hayden’s seizures were becoming so severe that rescue medications and daily anti-epileptic drugs were not working for him. In October of 2015 he was started on the Ketogenic Diet, he remained on the diet for a year and a half only suffering from 2 seizures. The diet saved his life.

Due to the severity of Hayden’s seizures it caused him to be non-verbal as well as struggle with his balance and movement abilities. As Hayden grew older so did his tolerance level for the diet, and the seizures returned. Now at 3 years old, Hayden is off the ketogenic diet and back on multiple AED’s. His seizures are currently controlled, only suffering from break throughs with growth spurts and illnesses.

Hayden has been going to physical therapy and has made tremendous strides in his movement abilities. He has also been working with a speech therapist and able to say between 30 and 40 words, with a positive outlook to gain more. The support that the hospital, his doctors, and Epilepsy Association has provided not only to Hayden but our entire family has been life changing during this journey. I encourage you to join and walk with us as we honor Hayden and the rest of the individuals and their families suffering from epilepsy. Let’s work together to eRace the historic stigma of epilepsy.

At the Epilepsy Association, we see clients overcome obstacles in their lives on a daily basis. Each year at the Epilepsy Association’s Annual Meeting, one client is chosen and recognized for their significant achievements in overcoming their struggles related to their epilepsy and mental health issues. It is hard to choose just one recipient to celebrate, as we have seen such great improvements with all of our clients. This year’s recipient of the Client of the Year Award is Dean Bratsch.

Dean started having seizures at 12 years old, and was diagnosed with epilepsy during his teen years. He was having grand mal seizures into his early 20’s. At this point, he learned about the Epilepsy Association, and became a client in February of 2013. He was looking for help with his seizure control and independence, and also his feelings of anxiety and isolation.

When Dean started seeing a case worker here at the Association, he began to learn important coping skills with his anger and anxiety. He also started seeing a new neurologist who told him he might be a candidate for epilepsy surgery. During his time with the Association, Dean has moved into his own apartment and has become more independent. His communication with his doctors is much better, and he is better at managing his own life.

On June 22, 2017 Dean graciously accepted his 2017 Client of the Year Award, and thanked his mom, the rest of his family, friends, and the case workers who have helped him during his time here at the Association.

Dean is continuing to work towards his goals and dreams with the love and support of his family, friends, and staff at the Epilepsy Association.

Congratulations to Dean on all of his accomplishments!