You were diagnosed with an intractable form of epilepsy in your senior year of high school. What has helped you manage it? My neurologist. I was in the hospital for almost a month early on after my diagnosis. She walked into my room, and I knew immediately that she was the doctor for me.
What is special about your neurologist? She read through the entire four-inch binder of my medical history. And she asked to see my ballet pictures. No one had ever asked me that, or anything about my past. She was the first doctor to acknowledge that this disease has crushed my dreams of being a dancer.
How long were you a dancer? I started dancing when I was 3 and won a dance scholarship to go to college. I continued to dance into my freshman year, but I eventually had to take a medical leave because my seizures kept getting worse and medication wasn't controlling them.
How are your seizures controlled now? My doctor ordered genetic testing to see if I had a particular type of seizure. When I tested positive for it, she put me on valproic acid (Depakote). It's the one medication that works for my type of seizure. Unfortunately, it also slows me down, makes me tired, and causes weight gain.
How do you deal with the weight gain? As a former dancer, the weight gain was especially upsetting. I had never been more than 10 pounds over my ideal weight. With the medication, I gained 50 pounds. I've since lost 30 pounds. I walk a lot and eat fewer carbs.
You are engaged to be married. How does your fiance help you stay positive? He is the nicest and most caring guy who thinks I'm the center of the universe and says all that mushy stuff. He doesn't look at me like I'm a monster. He's not afraid of my seizures. He's had his own health problems, so we're both very understanding. I also have a good support group of friends who have stuck by me. My mom, my aunt, and my twin brother are my foundation.
What are your hopes for the future? My goal is to teach little kids ballet. I was able to shadow one of my teachers in college while she taught children. It's not as easy as you might think, but I loved it. I found it very satisfying and fulfilling. Once my doctor and I find the right cocktail of medications and the right dosages, I'm hoping I'll be able to achieve that goal.