Tuesday, March 13, 2012
My daughter attends JDH Elementary School and the teachers there are very good about encouraging the kids to get involved and do things to help others in the community and around the world. The school "Me to We" team is currently raising funds to build a school in Ecuador. I'm currently reading "The World Needs Your Kid - Raising Children who Care and Contribute" by Marc and Craig Kielburger (the creators of Me to We). While thinking about this article and what to write, I came across a young inspiring Canadian girl who is making a difference for people who have Epilepsy. March is Epilepsy Awareness month and is a condition of the brain that is
characterized by recurrent seizures. It is near and dear to my heart
because my husband has lived with epilepsy since he was 11 years old (he is healthy and happy and it is well managed by his medication and excellent medical care) and our family kitty - Senor Cecile (CC) Ramos started having seizures last August. He is also receiving treatment for his seizures and we are working to find the right combination for him. Apparently it is very rare for cats to have Epilepsy/ seizures. You cannot imagine how shocked I was when he started having them. Both men in my life have Epilepsy!
Approximately one in ten people will experience at least one seizure during
a lifetime. The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells or neurons that
communicate through electrical and chemical signals. When there is a sudden excessive electrical discharge that disrupts the normal activity of the nerve cells, a seizure may result. Monday March 26 is Purple Day - Global Day of Epilepsy Awareness Day. Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about Epilepsy worldwide. On March 26th annually, people in countries around the world are invited to wearpurple and host events in support of Epilepsy awareness. In 2011, people in dozens of countries on all continents except Antarctica participated in Purple Day. Organizers are hoping the 2012 event will be even bigger. Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide or approximately 1 in 100 people. That's more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease combined. Purple Day was founded in 2008, by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada, with the help of the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia. Cassidy chose the colour purple after the international colour for Epilepsy, lavender. The lavender flower is also often associated with solitude, which is representative of the feelings of isolation many people affected by Epilepsy and seizure disorders often feel. Cassidy's goal is for people with Epilepsy everywhere to know they are not alone. To learn more about Cassidy and Global Purple Day, please visit