This year Jack (or should I say Lightning McQueen) and I spent our Halloween trick-or-treating alongside a real-life superhero. Teagan, who chose to dress-up as PJ Mask’s quick thinking, high flying Owelette, has spent the last eight months battling a villain that strikes hard and fast and has proven difficult to anticipate its next attack. Although it has wreaked havoc on every aspect of her life, Teagan has stood tall, fought back and demonstrated the same amount of courage as only the bravest of superheroes.
Last March, at the age of five, Teagan was diagnosed with epilepsy. Her official diagnosis came after a string of scary unexplained episodes that concluded with her first of many hospital visits. These episodes set off a whirlwind of events over the last few months that has left us feeling baffled, frustrated and angry but no matter how difficult things have become, Teagan always seems to take them in stride. Don’t get me wrong, I have had to do my fair share of begging, bribery and outrageous promises (I may be on the hook for a unicorn or two) and Teagan’s L.O.L Surprise doll collection is growing at an alarming rate, but in the end she has always stepped-up just like any great superhero would.
Life is certainly unpredictable but with the bad comes the good if you are willing to open your eyes and search for it. Teagan and I discovered our silver lining during our second trip to the children’s hospital when we met another young family whose daughter is also battling this disease. Teagan and “M” became fast friends, spending hours together in the playroom making bracelets and hosting numerous dinner parties throughout the week. While Teagan was relatively new to the “hospital kid” scene, “M” had been through this before and helped to put Teagan’s mind at ease. Her mother “K” and I shared stories about the girls and when it came time to leave, we exchanged information and promises to keep in touch. Teagan celebrated her sixth birthday this summer and was elated to have “M” join her for the festivities. I have found an invaluable friend in “K,” she is my sounding board when I am unsure of what’s next, always ready to lend an ear, and never failing to show her support for Teagan and I.
November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Did you know that epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disease but the least understood? Each year 150,000 more people will be diagnosed with epilepsy. Over a lifetime 1 in 10 people will have a seizure and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy. For additional information on epilepsy, please visit the Epilepsy Foundation website.
