March was Epilepsy Awareness Month. Epilepsy is the second most frequent neurological condition (after migraines) that affects 1 out of every 100 people. – Statistics from the Canadian League Against Epilepsy
This month, the Cedarbrae Cares blog features Lilly, who experienced her first generalized seizure five years ago on an early January morning. After numerous hospital visits and tests, Lilly was diagnosed with epilepsy, which requires constant supervision and affects every aspect of her and her family’s life. While other Grade 12 students have their driver’s license and attend social outings, teenage independence is one of the main things that Lilly misses out on since there are no seizure warning signs (also known as an aurora).
Lilly does not let epilepsy define who she is as an individual, in her spare time she plays ringette, rides her bicycle around Cedarbrae, or can be found reading or watching anything World War II or true crime related. As the oldest of her two sisters, Lilly’s quick wit and sense of humour make her the lovable peace maker of the family. Since Lilly’s epilepsy diagnosis five years ago, her and her family have made it their goal to raise awareness and funding for this incredibly life-changing yet common neurological condition.
Read the rest of Lilly’s story on our website.
We want to share your stories and experiences of living in Cedarbrae! If you would like to be interviewed or have a neighbour who you would like to nominate, please email [email protected] or visit our website, www.mycedarbrae.ca, for more information.
