Seizing Life

Mike Adamle was a fierce competitor in both college and the NFL, and went on to have a thriving career in broadcast journalism.  Now Mike must tackle life with challenging diagnoses; epilepsy and CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).

On this episode, epilepsy advocate and one of the founding CURE mothers, Debbie Flader, details her daughter’s frustrating journey to diagnosis, provides insight on creating a seizure action plan, and explains how new rescue drugs may improve the lives of epilepsy patients and caregivers.

To mark the completion of the first year of CURE’s Seizing Life podcast, we compiled clips from some of our favorite episodes during the past year.

On this episode of Seizing Life®, we take our show on the road to Epilepsy Awareness Day to speak with several experts from around the United States on a variety of epilepsy topics including genetic testing, new epilepsy devices, advances in epilepsy surgery and promising new treatments for Dravet Syndrome.

Amy Brin Miller, Executive Director of the Child Neurology Foundation, discusses how to tell if a baby is having spasms, steps parents should take if they suspect their child has infantile spasms, and why early intervention is critical.

In this episode, Meg reveals how epilepsy impacted so many aspects of her life; from being a student, to her budding nursing career, to dating, to having a child. Hear how she navigated living her best life with epilepsy and her advice for others.

You don’t have to be a neuroscientist to understand epilepsy research. CURE’s Board Chair and former Head of the Research Committee, Stacey Pigott, explains how even those without a science background can develop the skills they need to dive into research findings, using them to better communicate with physicians and empower advocacy.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a risk for the more than 1/3 of people with epilepsy whose seizures are uncontrolled, and one the wider epilepsy community needs to be aware of. Often occurring when a person is asleep, SUDEP is a major concern for epilepsy patients and families alike.

This week we’re rebroadcasting an amazing episode featuring New York Times Bestselling Author Kurt Eichenwald. The paperback version of his incredible autobiography A Mind Unraveled about his life with intractable epilepsy launches on October 15, so be sure to preorder your copy!

On this episode of Seizing Life, Kelly sits in the guest seat to speak with CURE Board Chair Stacey Pigott about using advocacy to drive science toward a cure for epilepsy.

Learn how this college student battles epilepsy stigma by speaking up and advocating like a champion.

In this episode of Seizing Life, CURE Board Members Michael Axelrod and Marilynn Kelly Gardner discuss the challenges they experienced and the wisdom they gained growing up with siblings impacted by epilepsy.

In this episode of Seizing Life, learn how Henry built his team of volunteers, fundraises for epilepsy organizations, and battles against epilepsy stigma.

In this episode of Seizing Life, mother Caroline McAteer speaks to her experience bringing her daughter Nora into the world.

Amy Brin Miller, Executive Director of the Child Neurology Foundation, discusses how to tell if a baby is having spasms, steps parents should take if they suspect their child has infantile spasms, and why early intervention is critical.

Join us as we discuss the VNS device, including patient eligibility, the surgical implant process, and possible side-effects of the device. Dr. Takijah Heard, Division Head of Pediatric Neurology at Northshore Neurological Institute, walks us through these topics and more in this episode of Seizing Life.

In this episode of Seizing Life, learn from Joanne Guthrie-Gard how to advocate for yourself or your child when facing an insurance-initiated switch of epilepsy drugs.

On this episode of Seizing Life, join us to learn more about using the ketogenic diet for seizure control from registered dietician Robyn Blackford and advanced practice nurse Breanne Fisher from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

In this episode, Dr. Jordan Grafman discusses what causes individuals to acquire epilepsy after TBI, how to potentially prevent PTE, and the state of PTE research. Dr. Grafman is a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University and Director of Brain Injury Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

In this episode of Seizing Life, Margaret talks about the decision to move her daughter to a self-contained public school, as well as how you can make the best choices for your child when it comes to education.

In this episode of Seizing Life, we chat with Dr. Charles Marcuccilli about why the many truths of epilepsy aren’t well-known and what patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals can do to educate others and reduce epilepsy stigma.

From fishing to ziplining to arts-and-crafts, summer camp gives kids the chance to just be kids. For children impacted by epilepsy, Camp YouCan meshes these classic summertime activities with support groups in a stigma-free environment.

In this episode, Eva and Michelle join us to discuss the ways epilepsy can add to the physical, mental, and emotional stresses of college, as well as resources and possible accommodations for college students with epilepsy.

In this episode of Seizing Life, hear what mother and advocate Laurel Henson and her son, Mason, face as a result of a nursing shortage in their school district. Laurel describes the daily physical and emotional challenges Mason experiences as a student with epilepsy due to the lack of a full-time nurse assigned to his school.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a risk for the more than 1/3 of people with epilepsy whose seizures are uncontrolled, and one the wider epilepsy community needs to be aware of. Often occurring when a person is asleep, SUDEP is a major concern for epilepsy patients and families alike.