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By Joanna Smiley, STAFF WRITER
12/03/2007
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Five Luzerne County young adults live in the invisible shadows of a sneaky neurological condition that can strike anytime, anywhere, anyplace.
On Black Friday this year, 20 year-old Walter Chippi blacked out for about two minutes in Wal-Mart. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at 14, and over the past six years he’s become a “pro” at detecting its wrath. That day at Wal-Mart, he avoided “another unnecessary ambulance ride” by peeling himself up off the ground and finding his mother.
Megan Harris said she takes 14 pills a day to avert a shaking episode from her epilepsy. The 20-year-old with a soft complexion and dark blue eyes smiles, laughs and talks like any other teenager, especially when she opens up about her favorite band in the world, Grammy award-winning alternative rock group Evanescence.
Last night, Harris, Chippi and several other members of the Wilkes Barre Epilepsy Support Group saw Evanescence’s concert at the Wachovia Arena. But they didn’t only get to see the show. They met lead singer Amy Lee backstage whose younger brother also suffers from epilepsy.
“It’s something that’s personally affected me and my family,” Lee told the group as she took photos and signed T-shirts. “It’s hard enough being a kid. When my brother had his first seizure at 11, I remember they had no idea what to do. I think his school actually called the fire department. People don’t know what it is to have epilepsy. I’ve got a voice and people will listen to me, so why not do what I can to explain what it means to have it.”
Although Lee said none of her songs are specifically about the disorder, she recently started a Web site, Out of the Shadows, that in conjunction with the National Epilepsy Foundation helps raise awareness.
Mary McLaughlin, northeast regional coordinator for the Wilkes-Barre Epilepsy Support group, told Lee that she wishes more schools taught students about the condition.
“Don’t worry,” Lee assured her and the group. “I know we’ll get there.”
McLaughlin’s son, Mike, beamed as Lee approached. He contracted epilepsy seven years ago from a mosquito infected with encephalitis. He has a magnetic nerve stimulator implanted in his chest that shoots constant electrical charges to his brain, which his mother says can help stop incoming seizures.
Wearing a baseball cap, blue jeans and black pea coat, Mike blended in effortlessly with the mix of fans backstage. “I find it interesting that Amy had someone in her family with epilepsy and she’s willing to talk to us. It’s the first time I’ve heard of a celebrity doing this,” he said smiling at his autographed poster.
Life isn’t easy for this group. None of these young adults can drive a car unless they’ve been seizure-free for at least six months. And many, like 19 year-old Stacia Schaeffer, encounter ignorance and hatred.
“I’ll cry if I start talking about it,” said Stacia’s mother, Marlene, glancing over at her daughter.
Stacia had her first bout with epilepsy as a newborn, then it returned 10 years later.
The support group works hard at stopping the embarrassment and stigma associated with epilepsy.
“You go the meetings and see people from all ages and walks of life with it,” Schaeffer said, giddy as she handed a dozen red roses, a purple and red “Think Positive” bracelet and a hand-written card to Lee.
jsmiley@citizensvoice.com
Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in children. It affects 3 million people in the U.S. About 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Source: Epilepsy Foundation
What you can do if you see a person having a seizure:
Speak calmly
Track the time
Block hazards
Cushion the head and remove any eyeglasses
Loosen tight clothing
Turn the person on his or her side
Don’t put anything in the mouth
Look for a medical I.D.. tag
Make sure the person knows the date, where they are and where they’re going next.
If full awareness does not return after several minutes, call for medical assistance.
from: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19078549&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6