International Epilepsy Day Celebration in Turkey

International Epilepsy Day falls on the second Monday of February. This year, it was on February 11, 2019. I happened to come across an article just now about a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey that was lit in purple to raise awareness about epilepsy. This kind of symbolic action is meaningful and is a first step in removing the stigma of epilepsy, especially in those countries with less access to healthcare and education.

https://www.dailysabah.com/istanbul/2019/02/12/istanbuls-bridges-light-up-in-purple-to-mark-international-epilepsy-day

Living with the Vagus Nerve Stimulator—Going on 5 Years

It’s been almost five years since I’ve lived with the Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS). I had it implanted in late November 2014 and activated at the beginning of December 2014. See my posts:

https://soosepilepsycorner.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-truth-about-vagus-nerve-stimulator.html

https://soosepilepsycorner.blogspot.com/2014/12/vagus-nerve-stimulator-vns-update.html.

Announcement--Facebook Live: “A Mind Unraveled” with Kurt Eichenwald

On January 16, 2019, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time, a Facebook Live event for people with epilepsy will take place. It is a talk with award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Kurt Eichenwald, about his book A Mind Unraveled, about his life with epilepsy.

They will be offering free copies of his book. However, it is first-come, first-serve and there are a limited number available.

The event is supported by Neuropace, Inc.

https://www.epilepsy.com/event/facebook-live-mind-unraveled-kurt-eichenwald

https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2019/1/facebook-live-mind-unraveled-kurt-eichenwald

Epilepsy Doctor and Hospital Recommendations

I hope you all had a very happy holiday season! May we all strive toward a healthy and seizure-free 2019.

One way to get there is to find the right doctor and hospital. Phylis Feiner Johnson posted two useful links on her blog Epilepsy Talk. One is a patient-recommended list of neurologists, epileptologists, neurosurgeons, and pediatric doctors. The other is a list put out by U.S. News and World Report of the best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery. I hope they are useful to you!

Resources

https://epilepsytalk.com/

https://epilepsytalk.com/2019/01/03/2019-patient-recommendations-for-top-neurologistsepileptologistsneurosurgeonsand-pediatric-doctors/

https://epilepsytalk.com/2019/01/05/2019-top-rated-hospitals-for-neurology-neurosurgery/

https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/neurology-and-neurosurgery

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

I hope 2019 brings more advances in epilepsy treatments and seizure freedom (or at least reduced seizures) to those who suffer from the effects of epilepsy.

With our advocacy, I am optimistic that the outlook will improve.

Holiday Greetings

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Prosperous New Year!

Announcement: Scholarships for People with Epilepsy

Sponsored by Lundbeck, CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy) is offering a one-time scholarship of up to $5,000 for people living with epilepsy, family members, and caregivers. It is “to be used toward coursework to advance personal knowledge in research, health education, advocacy and/or awareness in relation to their experiences with epilepsy.”

This is a very good opportunity for people who want to pursue their education in health care or advocacy to make a difference. I recommend that you look at it and apply for a scholarship if you are interested. The deadline is April 15, 2019.

https://www.cureepilepsy.org/get-involved/scholarships/?utm_source=1+-+General+List&utm_campaign=5938f92385-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_18_08_45&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_daad723502-5938f92385-258741493