Epilepsy Awareness Month: Days 1 – 15

  • Post category:Educational / Epilepsy
  • Reading time:3 mins read

Here we are, halfway through Epilepsy Awareness Month. If you follow James on Facebook, you’ve undoubtedly already seen these epilepsy facts. For those of you that don’t follow James Facebook page (and I don’t know why you wouldn’t), Stacy has been posting these pictures every day this month and will continue to do so throughout November. This post will include days 1 through 15 and I’ll plan to post days 16 through 30 on the 30th.

Don’t forget about Stacy’s Thirty-One fundraiser benefiting the Epilepsy Warriors Foundation, which can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1749893725273794

Thank you Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy Awareness for creating these images to raise awareness about epilepsy.

 

Day 1

James had his 1st seizure 4 days before he was born and was officially diagnosed with infantile spasms (a form of epilepsy) when he was 5 months old.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster featuring a young child with a thoughtful expression. A purple awareness ribbon appears beside text noting that November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, with a highlighted fact stating that 1 in 20 children are affected by epilepsy. Additional text encourages sharing and educating others, along with a link for more information.

 

Day 2

Am I reading this right? There are over 40 types and syndromes related to epilepsy?

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a prism casting a rainbow beam of light. Text highlights that November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and presents a fact of the day noting that epilepsy is a spectrum of neurological disorders with over 40 types and syndromes. Additional text encourages sharing and educating others, along with a link for more information.

 

Day 3

They used to tell us to put something in their mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue off, but I guess this has changed.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background, featuring a close‑up of a person’s lips on the right side. Text on the left highlights the November 3rd fact of the day, explaining that nothing should be put in or near someone’s mouth during a seizure to avoid injury. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others, along with a link for more information.

 

Day 4

Epilepsy, like so many other diseases, doesn’t care about your age or your race, or how much money you make.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring an older adult and a child smiling and embracing. Text highlights the November 4th fact of the day, emphasizing that anyone can develop epilepsy regardless of age, race, or social class. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others, along with a link for more information.

 

Day 5

James is part of that 30%. We are still trying to find a way to control his 30-50 seizures a day. We’ve read some promising results from the use of medical cannabis, so that may be an option.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple and white design featuring a circular pie chart showing a highlighted 30% section. Text presents the November 5th fact of the day, noting that in 30% of people living with epilepsy, seizures cannot be adequately controlled with available treatments. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others, along with a link for more information.

 

Day 6

I found this to be an interesting statistic. James has cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background showing three people standing together and talking. Text highlights the November 6th fact of the day, noting that more people live with epilepsy than with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease combined. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others, along with a link for more information.

 

Day 7

This is what keeps us up at night. We need to figure out something soon help James with these seizures, and all of the other kids and adults who suffer from them as well.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple and white layout featuring a red cube labeled “RISK.” Text highlights the November 7th fact of the day, explaining that the mortality rate for people with epilepsy is two to three times higher than the general population and that the risk of sudden death is significantly elevated. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others, along with a source citation and link for more information.

 

Day 8

We don’t know if James gets depressed or not because he cannot tell us. We imagine that he does, though, with all the crying he does after his seizures.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a person with curly hair holding their head, conveying emotional strain. Text highlights the November 8th fact of the day, explaining the strong association between epilepsy and depression: more than one in three people with epilepsy experience depression, and a history of depression increases the risk of developing epilepsy. Additional messaging includes a source citation and encourages sharing and educating others.

 

Day 9

We have shared this fact for a couple of years now and we wonder if that number is the same, or if it has gone up or down. Three million is a lot of people. And that is just in the United States. Imagine what that number is worldwide.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring an older adult wearing a purple top. Text highlights the November 9th fact of the day, stating that 3 million Americans live with epilepsy and 500 new cases are diagnosed each day. Additional messaging includes a source citation and encourages sharing and educating others.

 

Day 10

Do you know someone who has epilepsy or has had a seizure? It’s pretty scary!

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a group of people standing together holding books and folders, suggesting community and education. Text highlights the November 10th fact of the day, stating that 1 in 10 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others, along with a link for more information.

 

Day 11

300,000 children under 14. We’re not sure if this fact is still valid but that is a lot of kids!

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a young child with braided hair and a calm expression. A purple ribbon appears beside the text, which highlights the November 11th fact of the day: in the United States, about 300,000 children under age 14 have epilepsy. Additional messaging includes a source citation and encourages sharing and educating others.

 

Day 12

We couldn’t imagine what these men and woman have to deal with and see on a daily basis.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a person in military uniform holding their forehead, suggesting the impact of traumatic brain injury. Text highlights the November 12th fact of the day, explaining that for many soldiers who experience traumatic brain injury on the battlefield, epilepsy can become a long‑term consequence. Additional messaging includes a source citation and encourages sharing and educating others.

 

Day 13

There is no cure for epilepsy, but hopefully someday there will be.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a close‑up of a person’s face. A small piece of paper with the word “Help” written in red is taped over their mouth, creating a visual of silence and urgency. Text highlights the November 13th fact of the day, stating that there is no cure for epilepsy. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others.

 

Day 14

Stacy and I often do incorrectly call James’ epilepsy a disease.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a child wearing an EEG cap with multiple electrodes attached, connected to medical monitoring equipment in the background. Text highlights the November 14th fact of the day, explaining that epilepsy is not a disease or a psychological condition but a neurological disorder that can affect anyone. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others.

 

Day 15

Here is the answer to my question on Day 9…there are 65 million people worldwide that have epilepsy.

Epilepsy Awareness Month poster with a purple background featuring a group of smiling children lying together on the grass, representing global diversity. Text highlights the November 15th fact of the day, stating that epilepsy knows no borders and that 65 million people worldwide live with the condition. Additional messaging encourages sharing and educating others.