Epilepsy Awareness Month: Days 1 – 15

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

Purple plush teddy bear holding a handwritten sign. The sign reads that you learn how long 30 seconds feels when watching someone you love have a seizure. The bear has an epilepsy tag, and the overall design conveys the emotional weight of supporting someone through seizures.

 

We have been watching James struggle with seizures and epilepsy for ten years now. For ten years we tried to find something that would overpower his seizures…and we might have finally found it. I say ‘might’ because we’ve seen several medications work in the beginning only to have the seizures overpower them. It’s kind of like a waiting game. And it sucks. You hope that this is the med that has finally offered your kid relief from seizures, only to be let down when they come roaring back.

The death of Cameron Boyce earlier this year was a reminder that James’ epilepsy fight will probably never be over. For those of you who don’t know who Cameron is, he was an actor in a few Disney TV shows and movies that James watches. He died in July from SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in epilepsy). He was only 20 years old.

 

 

Stacy will be posting daily epilepsy facts on James’ Facebook page throughout the month of November, which is Epilepsy Awareness Month. I will be compiling those daily facts into two blog posts. This first post will have the facts from days 1 through 15. The second post, which I plan to put up on the 30th, will include days 16 through 30.

Stacy is also having her annual epilepsy awareness Thirty-One party and will donate 20% of sales to the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. If you want to get a jumpstart on some holiday shopping while helping to support a good cause you can check it out here:

https://www.mythirtyone.com/627441/shop/Party/EventDetail/10926852

If you don’t see anything you like, or would rather donate directly to the Epilepsy Foundation Greater Chicago, their donation page can be found here.

 

Day 1

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

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

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

We believe that James had his first seizure 4 days before he was born. He had several seizures in the NICU after he was born and was officially diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 5 months old.

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

Fingers crossed, but we think we finally found seizure control after 10 years!

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

James has both 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 one of our biggest fears.

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

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

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

These are older images, so we are not sure if these statistics have changed.

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

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

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 there are so many prescription and non-prescription ways to help control seizures. That’s why we raise funds every November to help the Epilepsy Foundation Greater Chicago find ways to help kids & adults with epilepsy.

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

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

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.

 

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about epilepsy. If you would like to help us in this fight, check out Stacy’s Thirty-One party here, or consider donating directly to the Epilepsy Foundation Greater Chicago.