I was born with seizures.

I was told that I had my first seizure at only three days old. Over the years, as I grew up, I mostly had grand mal seizures. I continued to have them until I was 18 and then they seemed to taper off as time went by.

After I had my first child, I began to have even fewer grand mal seizures and after my second child was born, I seemed to have gone along while without having a seizure at all.

With things seeming to settle down a bit, I decided to take a course in computers. However, when I graduated high school there was no Grade Twelve education available. I had to return to school to obtain that part of my diploma and get more credits. So I went to the Discovery Centre to complete my credits. While there I wrote and essay titled “Living with Three Illnesses,” I got so many credits for assignment and boy was I happy. I was slowly getting the credits I needed and getting closer to being able to take my course in computers.

However, that December I began having grand mal seizures again and my January, my seizures were out of control. Within no time, I was on an ambulance, not knowing what my future had in store and the next thing I remember is waking up in emergency. I tried to get up and walk. When I did, I realized I was paralyzed. I later found out, I had a stroke.

It took me nearly 19 months to learn how to walk again and over three years to regain my memory. Most of my learning has come back but I still have problems with some words. All in all it has been a hard road. I struggle each and every day.

But I never give up. After all, I was once told I would never walk again, or read or write and look at me now.

Christine is a member with Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador. She uses writing to work through some of the struggles she has faced throughout life. She writes poetry, essays and has even started a book.