That’s right folks…I’m back!

While I’m busy and overwhelmed at times (school is HARD!), I realized that writing this blog really helps me.  Hopefully some others have been encouraged by it as well.  That said, I’m committed to writing once each week (at least); fuss at me if this doesn’t happen.  I do apologize in advance if the blog ever turns into a venting outlet.  Actually, no, I don’t apologize for that.  As you may have read in previous posts, stress is no good for the ol’ funky brain waves.  So, rather than apologize I’ll say THANK YOU (in advance) for helping me “pull the trigger in my life.”  (see previous post).

Well, let’s get this show on the road people…  I’ve gotta write!

Wow!  Being back in school is certainly an eye opener…things have definitely changed and I’ve only been out for 6 years (that’s it!?).  Technological change was very evident when I paid $60 for an envelope!  Its contents looked like a gift certificate….oh boy, a gift certificate (that I paid for) for an online text book.  Okay, okay, enough complaining; it’s actually a really cool program and it was designed by a local publishing company (Soomo Publishing)…which makes it even cooler…buy local!  Of course, the people have changed too…the diversity of this crowd is amazing; though charming.

That’s right, “diverse” is the politically correct term but…calling it how I see it….some of these people are WEIRDOS!

Candidate #1:  William Wallace (yep, that’s really his name; only his first name though)… 20 years of age, he’s into historical reenactment, comes to class each day as a different “character” in time, and offers really random questions and statements during class (quite entertaining actually)

Candidate #2: Random guy sitting at a picnic table across from me… 24ish, black skinny jeans (how did he get into those?), purple mohawk and lots of chains and tattoos.

Candidate #3: Stormy (yep, that’s really her name)…18 years old, professional hula hooper, dredlocks down to her butt, very vocal about saving the animals and sporting lots of hemp and feathers (aren’t the feathers a little contradictory…plucking them doesn’t kill them…duh?)

Candidate #4:  ME! -Callie Fagg (yep, that’s really my last name …27 years old, wears boots to class almost everyday, advocates for epilepsy constantly (what is that anyway?), avid cuticle picker/fingernail biter and apparently has only one pair of pants (dark boot cut jeans)

Well, clearly, the fabulous 4 listed above are very different.  In my opinion, historical reenactment is about as exciting as watching grass grow, chains are to latch the gate on the pasture and while I like animals, I LOVE a good steak.  In my relatively recent past I would have said these people (including myself) were WEIRD.  Now though, I’ve accepted that they are simply different from me…and that’s okay.  And while it seems we have nothing in common…we do!  We are all at school as students, to learn, to succeed, and to encourage one another in the process…perhaps we’ll even grab coffee together.

While many of us with epilepsy and/or love someone with epilepsy are VERY different and lead extremely different lives, we too, all have something in common.  We are all humans with epilepsy/love someone with epilepsy, that strive to be seizure free and of course to encourage and love one another…perhaps we’ll even go to the same fundraisers, support groups and grab some sugar free dessert and decaf coffee (little Modified Atkins/Ketogenic Diet joke).

Those of us with epilepsy….we’re not WEIRDOS!

With Joy,

Callie

Start thinking about how you’re going to celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Month.  November will be here before you know it!  Check this out and either start planning something yourself or find something that you can participate in.  SEIZURE THE DAY!

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/getinvolved/national-epilepsy-awareness-month.cfm

Oh, and let me know where you are and what you’re doing; maybe I can come!

With Joy,

Callie

First and foremost, sorry for the delay.  I’ve been off “seizuring the day”… most of the time.

A week of my time “away” was spent at The Vineyard; the summer camp I attended growing up www.vineyardcamp.com.  If I remember correctly (giggle, giggle), I had a seizure there almost every summer.  The Vineyard is a place where I was constantly encouraged to “seizure the day” and was blessed to have a loving support system.   As not to break tradition (though I wish I had), I had a tonic clonic seizure while playing in the “Ultimate Frisbee” tournament last week.  Some of my teammates jokingly thanked me… as we were all pretty (some of us…VERY) out of shape.  As you may imagine, I was kind of upset. I just knew I was going to be seizure free….WHY did this happen, WHY me?  WHAT can I do to change this?

While I was at the camp, I also learned of the death of Holden Page, a faithful, loving member of my Vineyard support system.  He and his family understood staying positive during hard times…they just knew what to say or not say.  Holden could make me laugh anytime, all the time; he “seizured everyday” and helped others do the same.  As I sat, with tears in my eyes, and tons of thoughts running through my head, I kept coming back to…WHY and WHAT!?

Through the week I’ve continued to ask these questions.  I’ve inquired about many things and events in my life, the lives of friends, family and even those I don’t know; including “why’s and what’s” that are years old as well as those that are fresh.  Why did my parents get a divorce, why did my horse die unexpectedly, why did my boyfriend breakup with me, why did my friend die….what has come of it, what is better now, what can I do for it?  Some of these have been answered over the years, throughout the month and during the week but some still remain unknown.

Perhaps the most appropriate question for this post is… WHY is it ME (or child, husband, friend, sibling…) that has epilepsy and WHAT can I do to understand or help the situation?  Thankfully, the answer to this has been made very clear in my life during the past several years (though I do have an occasional relapse).  I’m an epilepsy advocate; it’s my duty and my passion to educate others, to encourage people and loved ones that are affected by this disorder.  I’ve had the joyful pleasure of meeting wonderful people and experiencing amazing things because I’ve allowed myself to ask and be open to the answer of “WHY” and “WHAT!?”

As mentioned previously, some “why’s” and “what’s” remain unknown.  Maybe you can come up with answer to one of the questions; what and not why or why and not what…and that’s okay.  I don’t know “why” it was Holden that died, “why” his family and friends have to suffer through this.  I am, however, certain that one day these “why’s” will be revealed.  I have deciphered “what” I can do; exactly what Holden has done for me.  I can be a loving, supportive friend, encourage his family and be strong knowing that one day answers will come and one day, I’ll see Holden again.

You may still be asking “why” and/or “what” in regards to epilepsy…and that’s okay.  To help answer “WHAT,” consider these suggestions; find your own faithful support system but also be a supporter, an encourager, an epilepsy advocate.  And, of course, alone or with friends and family, “SEIZURE THE DAY!”

With Joy,

Callie

Yep, it’s past noon and still….none.  Nothing new to the blog yet; I’m really frustrated with myself.  So sorry to my loved ones and blog followers.  Thank you for your continued patience!  You WILL have something by the end of the day.  GRRRR!

Hello again; it’s been WAAAAAYYY too long.  So sorry for the delay.  I am going to add to the original “Top 10 Reasons Epilepsy Really Isn’t That Bad,”….

11.  If it’s late and you really need to post something on your blog, you can suggest to your beloved readers that it’ll be better if you do it tomorrow, as sleep deprivation causes seizures.  (perhaps I shoud replace the “you’s” with “I’s”)

Many thanks to all of you for your patience; I’ve been “seizuring the day!”  You WILL have a new blog post by noon tomorrow. 

With Joy,

Callie

This is an interesting quiz….let me know how you do.  Longer post later in the day; have to get inspired.

http://www.epilepsysmart.org.au/

With Joy,

Callie

I hope to make David Letterman proud….

10. We don’t have to worry about car payments, car insurance payments, gas prices….

9.  Travel opportunities are available.  I’ve been to a lots of different NC cities but also to Baltimore for doctor visits (they can be made fun), Ft. Lauderdale to speak at a conference and to Washington DC (4 years) to participate in the National Walk for Epilepsy (http://giving.epilepsyfoundation.org/site/TR?fr_id=1880&pg=entry)

8.  The pharmaceutical companies send all kinds of nifty gadgets…pens, pads, whistles, laser pointers, blah, blah, blah…

7.  We get to eat lots of AMAZING chili if we go to the annual Chili Cookoff that the NC Epilepsy Foundation puts on….I was a judge!!! (Don’t forget the Tums   http://www.epilepsync.org/chilicookoff-2011.html

6.  If we’re on a horrible date (we’ve all had them), we can help cut it short by reminding our date (eww, gross) that sleep deprivation is a seizure trigger and it’s probably best if we head home.

5.  Some of us can have dogs (service dogs) in “non dog-friendly” apartments, houses, restaurants, etc.  I don’t have a dog http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1084289240

4.  We have ample opportunities for interesting people watching…public transportation, health department, cab drivers….

3.  If we’re light sensitive, we get to sit out events with a DJ and their cheesy lights. 

2. We have something in common with many famous people.  The following celebrities or their loved ones have epilepsy: Alexander the Great, Julius Cesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Vincent Van Gogh…. more recent celebs- Danny Glover, Florence Griffith Joyner (FloJo), Prince (or the artist formerly known as…I can’t keep up), Jet Travolta (son of John Travolta), Jason Snelling (Atlanta Falcons)….should I keep going? 

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY EPILEPSY REALLY ISN’T BAD IS…..

1.  We have the amazing opportunity to “Seizure the Day,” either individually, with our loved ones and with interesting people we’ve met because of epilepsy!

With Joy,

Callie

Finally, hello again!  The irony of the delay is that I forgot this hadn’t been posted yet.  So, enjoy…

ATTENTION: all old people (you be the judge) and many people with epilepsy (including me)…

Remember what you had for breakfast yesterday, what time you ate it, who was with you and what happened 2 hours later?  Of course we don’t…all I know is that I ate something…I think.

ATTENTION: all young people (again, you be the judge) and most people without epilepsy….same questions as above; do you remember?  Of course you do… you had 2 pieces of French Toast made with Wonder Bread and with extra cinnamon, one glass of 1% milk (best if consumed by July 23, 2011) at 8:27am.  You were wearing green plaid pj pants and a Backstreet Boys t-shirt that you go on July 15, 1998 at the Charlotte, NC concert.  Your mom was going to eat with you but Tommy (the chow/boxer mix dog that you got on December 3, 2007) got out…..  I’ll spare you what happened 2 hours later; though all details would have been remembered.

For me, epilepsy has had an impact on my short term memory for sure.  In all honestly, I’ve had moments when I’ve been very embarrassed by not remembering something.  Perhaps the other person doesn’t realize that I’m a little foggy (thankfully) but it’s very frustrating to me personally.  It’s also interesting, in that, I’ll be talking and in mid-sentence can’t think of the word I wanted to use.  I know the word, I just can’t get it out.  It just makes me feel a little inadequate and really, it makes me realize that it’s not just the headache and nausea that comes along with seizures, it’s long term junk too!  I sometimes wonder if so many seizures has changed who I am or who I used to be?

One thing I’ve recently started was keeping a journal.  It’s not necessary (for me anyway) to put every little detail (like my Backstreet Boys t-shirt) but I do like to “talk” about the general events of the day and how I’ve “seizured the day.”  I’m also now the queen (well, princess) of check-lists….to do lists, grocery lists, etc.  And lastly, I write directions down…constantly.  Directions not just to get somewhere but directions on “how to’s” on the computer.  Forgive me mom…I used to make fun of you for this very thing.

While it is somewhat a blow to my pride and I do get embarrassed, I try and embrace it.  It’s the way it’s going to be and I can either feel inadequate or discover ways to enhance my memory.  Seizure the day!

With Joy,

Callie

Well, sorry to let you down (again)…but…apparently my body was trying to tell me something.  I slept late, did some laundry and managed to fall back asleep.  While feeling unproductive and “blah-ish” I still “Seizured the Day.”  I listened to my body and RELAXED!

Short story long….you’ll hear from me tomorrow.

With Joy,

Callie