Epilepsy Canada Influencer: Kimberly Tanious
Meet Epilepsy Canada Influencer: Kimberly Tanious
“I always wanted to be a light in this world and someone that brings hope, so being an epilepsy influencer would mean the world to me. Meeting other people that are as passionate about research and spreading awareness about epilepsy, gives me hope for the future of understanding epilepsy and finding a cure. Which is the ultimate goal.”
Her Personal Story:
I started having seizures and was diagnosed at the age of six for simple partial seizures otherwise known as focal onset seizures. My childhood was not like other kids, I skipped a lot of school to be at the hospital to do EEG’s and MRI’s. The first medication I was put on was trileptal. That was my normal, I grew up not knowing what life was like without it. As time passed in school I got held back a year, and would get about 20 seizures a day. I dealt with a lot of bullying for having a health condition I couldn't control. It really hurt my self esteem at the time. It was hard to build friendships that were genuine and not judged. It was a dark time in my life where I felt more like a burden and outcast. As soon as I told my neurologist she recommended a counsellor from the hospital, They really took the time not to just focus on my physical health but my mental health as well. My neurologist was really cooperative and took into consideration that my family didn't fully understand epilepsy and tried her best to explain it to them. She also gave us options that could help my epilepsy, ultimately I tried many different medications, but since none of them were getting my epilepsy under control, the summer before high school they gave me the option of brain surgery.
The choice was mine and I knew that this would be beneficial even if it was scary. After my surgery I spent a month in the hospital in recovery, and there was a significant reduction of seizures from 20 to 8 seizures a day. As time passed I was able to understand what my triggers were and how to get it more under control.
I am not seizure free yet, but I have hope one day I will be. My doctors and I recognize what my triggers are and how to prevent my seizures. As for my mental health I understand that it is not my fault I never asked for it, and as for friends I have a great group of friends that accept me as I am, and don't look at me as an outcast but as a normal person. I was able to graduate from college and get a part time job and focus on helping others with epilepsy.
I understand now that I am a warrior, any person living with epilepsy is a warrior
The courage of those living with epilepsy,
inspires us and fuels our journey.
Your gift will help us to continue on the road toward an epilepsy cure.