The Epilepsy Project

I was diagnosed with epilepsy at an incredibly difficult time in my life, my freshman year of college.  You know, that time when you think you are totally and completely invincible and nothing can ever go wrong in your life?  Yeah, that’s when life looked me in the eye, handed me something new, and said “Deal with it.”  The first few months were incredibly difficult.  I have a genetic form of epilepsy that doesn’t show itself until later in life.  I remember waking up one morning and thinking,”Who am I?”  It is kind of strange, apparently I had been living with this disorder my entire life but it didn’t show itself until I was 19.  I had lived my entire life thinking, I am spunky, creative, musical, kind, chatty, insert more adjectives here.  After that fateful day in July all I could wake up thinking was, I’m epileptic.  

I had just joined a sorority before I found out about my epilepsy and was preparing to move into a house of 100 girls the following fall.  I didn’t know what to do.  Do I tell them?  Will they think I’m weird?  Will they treat me like a freak or some charity case?  I decided not to say anything until fate took hold.  I had a seizure in our dining hall about one week after moving in the house.  Everyone saw and because of my nervousness and insecurity, no one knew what to do.  After that day, I knew it was best to tell all of them.  It was time to be brave and make sure we were all well informed for my safety and their sanity.  

I never could have expected the warm response I received after telling the chapter I have epilepsy.  Directions on what to do if I have a seizure were posted on every floor of our house and every sister took the time to learn.  When epilepsy awareness day rolled around, I had an entire house of beautiful women wearing lavendar and standing proudly by my side.  I am now a senior and preparing to graduate college and leave this wonderful house.  These women have been my rock, have known me in good times and in bad, and have been there even when the seizures were not controllable.  They have seen me go from shy and timid to epilepsy advocate and I have their love and support to thank for my strength.  If you have a child with epilepsy and are afraid to let them join a fraternity or sorority when they go to college, please do not be.  I know every story is different, but the sisters of Kappa Delta shaped, accepted, and loved me in times when it was hard to get up in the morning and for that I will be forever grateful.

-Britt Sutton