I’ve always done well in school; it was one of the things I was most proud of. However, this was not the case when it came to French. It was the subject that stressed me out most and I absolutely dreaded it. On one day during a French lesson, I got this feeling in my stomach, I’d got this feeling many times before. Friends and family would call it my ‘bubble’. I would be unable to move or speak for a few minutes. Everyone just thought I was a bit odd. However, on this day the bubble was really strong and turned into a tonic-clonic seizure.
After a lot of testing, I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy in 2019.
I found out that those bubbles were actually simple partial seizures and now became a warning for tonic-clonic seizures.
I decided very early on that I was not going to let my epilepsy ruin my aspirations.
Even though my memory is now shocking, its nothing a few reminders and ‘to do’ lists cant help. I have decided that I would like to do a master’s degree in human neuroscience, I wouldn’t have discovered my passion for neurological disorders if I wasn’t diagnosed. I’ve done numerous research projects on epilepsy, these include an investigation into Anti-Epileptic-Drug consumption during pregnancy and fetal outcome, and the association between epilepsy, medication and memory performance. I’m now in my last year of university with a job and flat secured for after.
I will forever be grateful that I am surrounded by amazing people who will support me and look after me in my most vulnerable times. Because of this I don’t believe that my epilepsy will stop me achieving what I want too or enjoying life to the fullest.
