Category Archive

Supporting Agencies (International)

Agency works with media to bring supports to family of boy with epilepsy

August 18, 2016

By Deron Hamel Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton communications manager Trevor Gordon was scanning online news stories in May when he came across a Global News article about a Mississauga family who was trying to find supports for the 5-year-old boy they had adopted who is living with epilepsy. In May, Rosy Garcia and Andres Sosa…

Aspiring artist with epilepsy draws inspiration from Van Gogh

June 3, 2016

By Deron Hamel Vincent Van Gogh has a special place in Emily Greer’s heart. Emily, who is studying fine art at OCAD University in Toronto, says Van Gogh is her favourite artist. But she also feels a connection to Van Gogh on another level. Emily is living with epilepsy. Many historians (and even Van Gogh’s…

Divalproex sodium shortage expected to end soon, but that doesn’t curb family’s anxiety

March 17, 2016

By Deron Hamel Although a multifaceted effort is underway to end a  severe  shortage of divalproex sodium (Epival), a commonly used anti-seizure drug, the anxiety created by the limited amount of the lifesaving medication lingers, says Lynda Bowyer. Bowyer, whose 21-year-old daughter takes Epival to control her seizures, says this is the first time her…

Pharmaceutical companies need to explain why drug shortages occur in order to prevent them

February 4, 2016

By Deron Hamel Stakeholders would be better positioned to offer solutions to prevent medication shortages if pharmaceutical companies provided public explanations about why shortages happen, says Suzanne Nurse, Epilepsy Ontario’s director of information and client services. Following public consultation in 2014, the Canadian government announced it would be mandating the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturers to publicly…