Wilson: Senior doesn't let epilepsy define her

FISHERSVILLE — It was volleyball season during her sophomore year at Wilson Memorial High School. She was practicing every day and doing homework late into the night.

It was about 1 a.m. when Emma Nargi finally got to bed Friday morning. She got up early the next day to go to school, volleyball practice, babysitting her brother. And then she doesn't remember anything after that.

"The night was blank," Nargi said.

She got up on Saturday to go to volleyball practice when she realized she had bruises all over her arms and teeth marks on her tongue.

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"I went to practice like normal but my mom had me go to the pediatrician to make sure my tongue was okay," Nargi said.

The doctor sent Nargi to the emergency room and she was hit with a battery of tests — too many tests if you ask her — an EKG, CAT scan, PET scan, blood work and a million questions. And after all of that they still couldn't definitely say what was wrong, so they sent her to the neurology department at the University of Virginia Medical Center.

It took about two weeks, a few appointments, an EEG and a sleep study, but Nargi was diagnosed with idiopathic seizures — which means they don't know what part of the brain they are originating from.

Nargi manages her epilepsy with medication. The big ones — like what happened the night she woke up with bruises and teeth marks on her tongue — don't happen anymore. But she sometimes has what she calls small seizures now and then. For example she was in math class and the flickering of an overhead projector brought one on.

"It felt like my brain was getting bigger and my eyes rolled back," Nargi said. After a few minutes it stopped and she came back.

Because of her seizure disorder there are things Nargi can't do — have caffeine, too much sugar, drink, be around flashing lights, ride roller coasters, or attend loud concerts.

But the most annoying thing about having epilepsy? Nargi said it's the 9 and a half hours of sleep she's required to get every night. Between sports, working and homework there are only so many hours in the day.

And homework she has. This year Nargi is taking six Advanced Placement courses — environmental science, statistics, English 12, government, psychology and economics.

Nargi attends the Governor's School for STEM. She also participates in volleyball, soccer, and this year, swim club.

"I like to stay extremely active," Nargi said. "I don't like to sit still."

Nargi had the opportunity to do a mentorship over the summer with Staunton law firm, Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver. She did 160 hours of shadowing over the course of four weeks.

The experience led her to settle on pre-law and international affairs as her majors this fall when she attends the University of Virginia.

"I'm excited to meet new people," Nargi said of college. "I've made friends in high school but I don't have the same way of thinking [as her peers] and the same interests."

Nargi said what she'll miss most about high school is being able to go home every day.

About this series: Every year hundreds of area high school seniors cross a stage and are declared graduates. In each batch there are many students who have gone above and beyond or have distinguished themselves among their peers. This series will feature some of the those students. Each school's guidance department was asked to provide the name of a student who they felt best represented the class of 2018. For three consecutive Sundays, The News Leader will feature student profiles in print. This Sunday students from Stuarts Draft High School and Wilson Memorial High School are featured.