Children & Youth with Epilepsy
Zoey
Hello, my name is Zoey Stewart and I have epilepsy. I had my first seizure when I was five years old and now I'm eleven. Epilepsy has changed my life in many ways. In March 2018 I had brain surgery with electrodes sitting on my brain for two weeks. I was taken off all of my medication because I needed to have a seizure so the doctors could see where my seizures were coming from. I didn't have a seizure, so my epilepsy is still a mystery. The doctors called me a medical mystery.
The good news is that I haven't had a seizure since my surgery for some strange reason. We don't know what kind of epilepsy I have. 99% of my seizures have been nocturnal. Because my seizures happen when I'm sleeping I have never been allowed to do sleepovers. I have a monitor in my room for sleeping. My parents watch me very closely. I love to swim but since my diagnosis of epilepsy my parents are extremely protective of me around water.
Q: How much medication do you take and what?
Zoey: I take three Keppra in the morning and three at night but I did take Keppra, Tegretol, Clobazam.
Q: What is the biggest way epilepsy has impacted your life?
Zoey: There are no big impacts, just a lot of little ones like not going to certain movies because of flashing lights, concerned about fireworks, sleepovers and even my school work are a few.
Q: When was your last seizure?
Zoey: Over 2 years ago
Q: What do you think people need to know about epilepsy?
Zoey: That it can change your life. Your routines, your activities, almost every part of your life.
Q: If you didn't have epilepsy, how would your life be different?
Zoey: I could swim a little by myself and not have my monitor at night time.
Update: Zoey is being scheduled for another Sick Kids stay and, depending on results, she may have her medications adjusted down again.
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