By Wes Bloom

“Purple Day” was held in Assiniboia, and around the world on March 26. It’s a special day set aside to help raise awareness, dispel some of the myths and fears associated with Epilepsy and help put into perspective some of the horrors and misconceptions of this dreaded ‘condition’.

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Young Cassidy Megan, with help from her mother Angela, is recognized as the ‘creator’ of ‘Purple Day’ back in 2008.

Cassidy’s own struggles with epilepsy were her motivation to inform the world of this ‘condition’ and show those who were afflicted, that they are not alone. Cassidy was born in Nova Scotia and is now 16 years of age.

There are as many as 50 million people on planet earth living with epilepsy. Approximately 1 in 100 people are known to have epilepsy. In Canada alone, more than 300,000 people are afflicted with it.

Technically, epilepsy is not a disease. It’s not a psychological disorder. And, it is not contagious. Presently, there is no known cure for it. It’s a condition characterized by seizures, both small and large, and may often be almost totally debilitating.

For about 50 per cent of those with epilepsy, medication can control their seizures. Some affected children may eventually outgrow their epilepsy, while some adults may go into spontaneous remission.

Throughout history, many famous people are either known to have had epilepsy, or are ‘suspected’ of having had it. These include: Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, Napoleon Bonaparte, Agatha Christie, Julius Caesar, Socrates, Charles Dickens, Van Gogh, and Thomas Edison. More recently, these famous individuals are, or were, afflicted with epilepsy: Actress Margaux Hemingway, Actor Danny Glover, and Singer-songwriter Neil Young. These are just a few of the many.

Some situations or conditions that may ‘trigger’ seizures include: missing meals, stress, emotional upset, extreme excitement, lack of necessary sleep, illness or fever, street drugs, hormonal changes, menstrual cycles, flickering lights of computers, television, videos, etc., and even extremely bright sunlight.

Lest you think that epilepsy has no local ‘face’, next week we present Part II of “The Face of Epilepsy”: the story of local girl, Christine Weal, from Assiniboia. Imagine, if you will … You’re an athlete in high school - a gymnast. You even coach gymnastics. You love animals. You’re crazy about animals, sooo … you go off to school to become a Veterinary Technician. You land your dream job in a vet clinic helping the animals you love. Life is good. Your future looks bright. Then, one day, out of the clear blue, you have a grand mal seizure and your whole world comes crashing down around you.

Join us next week for Part II of Christine Weal’s amazing story to regain control of her life.