Seizing Life

This week on Seizing Life ® in honor of International Epilepsy Day on February 14th we speak with Julianna Shinnick about the state of epilepsy in the Mahenge region of Tanzania in East Africa. After living with epilepsy for years, Julianna underwent brain surgery at the age of 19. Her experience inspired her to become involved in the lives of those with epilepsy in Tanzania.

This week on Seizing Life, Lacey Smith of Boston Children’s Hospital takes us on a deep dive into genetic testing and counseling; what it is, how it works, who should consider it, what it can provide for patients and families, and what it may promise for the future of epilepsy knowledge and care.

This week on Seizing Life, we revisit several compelling conversations from the past year in our Best of Seizing Life 2021 compilation episode

This week on Seizing Life® we conclude our two-part episode about infantile spasms (IS). In our previous episode, our panel of experts outlined everything that parents and caregivers should know about infantile spasms; what to look for, what to do, and what to expect from treatment options. In part 2, we focus on the research being conducted to improve understanding, detection, and treatment optio...

This week on Seizing Life®, we focus on infantile spasms (IS), a rare and particularly severe epilepsy syndrome that typically begins within the first year of life. How do you get an accurate diagnosis? And what do you do if your baby is diagnosed with IS?

This week on Seizing Life we speak with Daniel Allbeck and his parents Paula and David Allbeck about their family’s journey with epilepsy. From the time of Daniel’s first seizure and subsequent diagnosis at the age of 22, Paula began researching and learning as much as she could about epilepsy.

In observance of Veterans Day, this week on Seizing Life ® we focus on TBI and PTE in veterans. We revisit past conversations with Retired Army Captain Patrick Horan and former Marine Alec Beauseigneur-Jimenez, both of whom suffered a TBI in the line of duty and developed PTE as a result of their injuries. Additionally, we speak with Dr. Lauren Harte-Hargrove, Associate Director of Research at CUR...

On this episode of Seizing Life, we speak with former CURE Grantee and the Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Dr. Elizabeth Donner about all aspects of SUDEP.

For many people living with epilepsy, seizures are just one of the challenges. Often an epilepsy diagnosis comes with other medical issues. While rare, one such condition can be Sturge-Weber, a vascular disorder in which blood vessels in the brain form abnormally, resulting in a facial birthmark (referred to as a port-wine stain), eye abnormalities such as glaucoma, and often seizures

This week on Seizing Life® we speak with Mary and Tom Nugent, parents of 3 young men, two of whom have grown-up with epilepsy. With one son severely impacted from infancy and another diagnosed at the age of 9, the Nugents have experienced the vastly different impacts of epilepsy in the microcosm of their own household.

In this rebroadcast of a Seizing Life episode from June 2019, we speak with Dr. Charles Marcuccilli, Director of Pediatric Epilepsy at the Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Marcuccilli explains why epilepsy is so misunderstood, discusses the history and impact of stigma around it, and suggests what patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals can do to increase awareness and education aroun...

When and how do you push back against medical professionals? Where do you go for information, and how do you access the best care for your child?

If you have listened to the Seizing Life podcast you know that it’s produced by CURE Epilepsy. But do you know what CURE Epilepsy, the organization, actually does? Are you aware of its mission and how it funds epilepsy research to help accelerate science and find a cure?

With students preparing to head back to college campuses, we revisit several previous episodes in which students with epilepsy and their parents discuss their experiences choosing and attending college.

Today on Seizing Life, we speak with epilepsy researcher, educator, and patient Dr. Steve White. Dr. White is a professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Washington. He is also an epilepsy patient, having experienced his first seizure in 2010.

On this episode of Seizing Life, Lissy recounts her daughter’s onset, diagnosis and ACTH steroid treatment for infantile spasms. She also explains why early detection and treatment are so important, where to find infantile spasms support groups, and how awareness and education among parents, caregivers, and doctors can result in positive outcomes for infants with I.S.

On this week’s Seizing Life, epilepsy patient, counselor, and author Jon Sadler discusses his 50-year journey living with epilepsy. Jon’s experiences reflect many of the challenges and concerns of people with epilepsy including stigma, employment, family, dealing with changing treatments and side-effects, and undergoing life-changing brain surgery.

n August of 2020, Geoff Applegate lost his fiancé Zsatara to SUDEP just weeks before the couple was to be married. Geoff shares his ongoing journey through the grieving process including what he has personally found helpful, what he’s learned about helping his son cope with the loss, and how he keeps Zsatara’s memory alive by raising awareness about SUDEP.

When a recurring eye twitch led to a diagnosis of epilepsy, Paul St. Pierre found himself trying to gain seizure control while managing medication side effects and trying to maintain his grades. With the help of their state senator, they gathered support for a bill to ensure epilepsy education and seizure safety in all New Jersey schools.

Lauren Panco was 26 years old, in the midst of a promising career with a fast-growing company, engaged to be married, and enjoying a busy professional and social lifestyle when she suddenly suffered a seizure. On this week’s Seizing Life®, Lauren, now 32, discusses the disturbing initial diagnosis she received, her concerns about the impact of epilepsy on her career, and how she has navigated work...

On this week’s episode of Seizing Life, we speak with author, journalist, and mother Liane Kupferberg Carter. Liane’s son Mickey was diagnosed with autism at 5 years old, and several years later received an additional diagnosis of epilepsy.

This week on Seizing Life, we speak with two CURE Epilepsy Education Enrichment Fund Scholars about their experiences growing up with a sibling who has epilepsy. Emma Cardwell and Nathan Bliss share their siblings’ diagnoses and how this affected their respective families and themselves in both challenging and inspirational ways.

CURE Epilepsy and Epilepsy Canada recently entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate scientific progress and drive research forward to find a cure for epilepsy. To celebrate this new partnership, and in honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month in Canada, we speak with Alek and Brittany Stewart, husband and wife advocates for Epilepsy Canada.

This week on Seizing Life we speak with Angie Froehlich about parenting a teenager with epilepsy. Angie’s daughter Chloe was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 12.

What do you do when your life is suddenly upended by an epilepsy diagnosis? Where do you turn for reliable information? How do you find a neurologist that you connect with? Can you manage your seizures and live the life you’ve always had?