Author Archives: DHamel

How a positive attitude helped student overcome epilepsy challenges

March 4, 2024

By Deron Hamel

Amber Demers recalls the first time she experienced a seizure – it was in 2007, the day before classes began when she was a first-year university student.

Amber Demers holds the cheque she received after being awarded an Epilepsy Ontario Scholarship.

Shortly after, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Simultaneously, Amber found herself facing two new challenges: living with a seizure disorder and dealing with a full-time university class schedule.

“Not only was I terrified of my next adventure of navigating the world of post-secondary education, I was now facing this new adventure with an epilepsy diagnosis filled with fear and uncertainty,” she says.

At the time, Amber says her neurologist and family doctor could not understand what was causing her seizures. What Amber describes as her “seizure-control journey” started with her testing new medications and her doctors trying to understand what was triggering her seizures.

“This was all done while maintaining a full-time course load in university, attending all my classes and completing all of my assignments,” Amber says.

“This was not an easy task – especially while trying to understand my triggers.”

At this point, Amber says she needed to put supports in place to help her get through university while maintaining a low stress level, despite repeated seizures.

She began working to understand her epilepsy so she could continue living a successful life while limiting epilepsy’s impact.

“This led me to the development of a positive attitude,” Amber says. “There was no way I could handle all of these obstacles without this. I focused on the positives in my life and positive steps to continuously move forward.”

Amber has also found that involving herself in the epilepsy community has helped her cope with her condition.

Since 2012 she has been involved with Epilepsy Niagara in various capacities including serving as a board member, volunteering and being on the events committee. Most recently, she became president of the agency’s board of directors.

“As the board president, my goal has been community outreach and determining how the agency can provide support services to those living in Niagara,” she says.

“Events are crucial to Epilepsy Niagara, as (they) assist with providing awareness about epilepsy, informing members of the community and allowing for fundraising efforts to increase the amount of support that Epilepsy Niagara can provide.”

Amber is one of six recipients of Epilepsy Ontario’s 2023 annual scholarship. For more than 15 years, Epilepsy Ontario has been providing scholarships to exceptional students who have confronted and overcome remarkable barriers in their academic and personal lives due to their epilepsy.

Epilepsy has been no match for student’s inner strength

January 10, 2024

By Deron Hamel

Angélique Erry recalls how when she was diagnosed with epilepsy at 13, she felt the condition would be a barrier that would prevent her from living life to its fullest.

Angélique Erry holds the cheque she was awarded as an Epilepsy Ontario Scholarship winner. Angélique is studying life sciences at the University of Toronto.

She remembers her doctor giving her a list of activities she needed to avoid, telling her how many hours of sleep she needed each night and advising her to not partake in activities people her age enjoyed – like school trips and sleepovers.

“It seemed like my disorder was in control of my entire life,” Angélique says. “I felt hopeless, withdrawn and fearful.”

However, as time passed, Angélique says she found the strength to view epilepsy as a challenge she could overcome.

She educated herself and those around her about epilepsy and this allowed her to feel more comfortable around friends and family. She also adjusted her schedule to ensure she would get to sleep earlier and found ways to work around the activities she couldn’t do.

“I found solutions to every restriction I was given and didn’t let epilepsy stop me from doing what I love,” Angélique says.

“Epilepsy helped me strengthen my resilience and perseverance. I’ve applied this to my everyday life – in and out of academics as well. I take on challenges with determination and an open mind without immediately feeling helpless.”

By tapping into her inner strength, Angélique has accomplished the goals she has set for herself. She graduated high school with a 94 per cent average, was active in her school band and has been recognized for her volunteer work. Today, she is enrolled in the life sciences program at the University of Toronto.

Angélique is one of six recipients of Epilepsy Ontario’s 2023 annual scholarship. For more than 15 years, Epilepsy Ontario has been providing scholarships to exceptional students who have confronted and overcome remarkable barriers in their academic and personal lives due to their epilepsy.

Asked what message she has for others living with epilepsy, Angélique says it’s to urge people to share their experiences with epilepsy and how they have overcome obstacles. These stories, she says, can provide a road map to help others living with epilepsy manage the condition.

What’s important for everyone living with epilepsy to realize is that the condition does not define who they are, she says.

“(Epilepsy) will always be an obstacle, but I came to realize that life doesn’t end the day you get diagnosed with epilepsy; it just gets reformed,” she says.

“It becomes a challenge you need to learn and grow from. I am still pursuing my dreams, as I remain resilient and maintain a growth mindset.”

Negative workplace experience prompts scholarship recipient to set sights on helping others

December 7, 2023

By Deron Hamel

Luke Jan was 27 and working an office job in the private sector when he was diagnosed with epilepsy. The lack of accommodation Luke received from his employer following his diagnosis had a profound impact on him and would steer his career path in a new direction.

Pictured above, York University student Luke Jan holds his scholarship cheque

At the time, Luke decided to work with his neurologist to minimize his seizures through medication. This helped Luke complete his work assignments and demonstrate to the company that epilepsy was not interfering with his ability to be a productive employee, he says.

This, Luke adds, was a testament to his “resilience and strength as a person living with epilepsy.”

Knowing this working environment was not sustainable in the long term, Luke set his sights on finding a new job with an employer who would be more supportive. He eventually found that with a position in the public sector.

“I refuse to let others’ ignorant or misinformed perceptions or ideas of me negatively limit me,” Luke tells Voices of Epilepsy.

“(This) led me to my current position, working in the Ontario public sector in a role that works directly with offices overseeing the launch of and implementation of programs directly related to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).”

Luke is one of six recipients of Epilepsy Ontario’s 2023 annual scholarship. For more than 15 years, Epilepsy Ontario has been providing scholarships to exceptional students who have confronted and overcome remarkable barriers in their academic and personal lives due to their epilepsy.

Luke is pursuing a master’s degree in the public policy, administration and law (MPPAL) program at York University. He’s planning to use the knowledge and skills he’s gaining through the program to better advocate for people living with epilepsy.

Eventually, Luke says he would like to use his experience and education to assist provincial ministries in supporting epilepsy organizations and people that support those living with epilepsy.

“I made the choice to control my future by advocating for other people living with epilepsy,” he says.

Scholarship recipient is inspired by those who’ve helped her thrive

November 3, 2023

By Deron Hamel

Taylor Thomas is planning to use her talents and education to help others living with seizure disorders.

Epilepsy Ontario scholarship recipient Taylor Thomas, right, is seen here with neuropsychologist Dr. Sean Robb, whom she says has been an inspiration in her life.

Taylor, who is working towards a BA in psychology with a focus on neuropsychology at Brock University, says she has been inspired by the people who have helped her flourish in life while managing her epilepsy.

Another motivation for Taylor has been her brother, who also lived with epilepsy, and passed away after suffering a seizure in his sleep in June.

“If someone like future me could have stepped in with a neurologist’s help quicker, more efficiently, with better support and proper medication, he could have had a chance to live,” Taylor says.

Dr. Sean Robb, a neuropsychologist whom Taylor has worked with during the past six years, has been a role model and “inspiration for my schooling,” Taylor says.

Taylor says she hopes to make an impact on other people’s lives the way Dr. Robb has made an impact on her life.

“I could quite literally be the change in a patient’s life – both the quality and in general – as Dr. Robb was in mine,” she says.

Since being diagnosed and medicated for her epilepsy, Taylor says she has “flourished” and is looking forward to continuing to use what she characterizes as her greatest strength – compassion – to help others.

Taylor is also an active volunteer, donating her social-media skills to Oak Centre Clubhouse, a Welland, Ont.-based alternative community support service, as well as participating in several boards and committees in the area that are dedicated to improving community health centres.

Additionally, Taylor served six years with the Canadian Cadet Program where she earned many prestigious awards and positions.

Taylor says her greatest accomplishments so far have been academic ones.

“My largest triumph thus far would be graduating high school then going to college, (and) now it is being accepted into Brock University,” she says. “This is because it took me many extra years to graduate due to my disabilities, but I did it and did well (and) I didn’t quit.”

Taylor is one of six recipients of Epilepsy Ontario’s 2023 annual scholarship. For more than 15 years, Epilepsy Ontario has been providing scholarships to exceptional students who have confronted and overcome remarkable barriers in their academic and personal lives due to their epilepsy.