A moment of celebration and what's all that junk on my wrist...

What does hitting 1,000 miles feel like? It feels like...well, THIS...

Happy Dance Time

And, if it seems like I got from just over 900 to 1,000 fast, well not to toot my own horn, but...I DID! We have been walking/running/sprinting machines! My family and I have not sat down until we have hit 7, 8, 9 miles on any given day and that is how we have gotten to this amazing goal so quick!

I know, I know...there is still 1,015 to go, you say. Well, shame on you - glass half-emptiers. You want to tell me there isn't a cure out there too? I say, 1,015? Bring it on! And, a cure? It's there. The strides that have been made in the 18 years since I have been diagnosed are AMAZING (understatement) and they keep coming. The brain is still a great unknown...but scientist are also miracle-workers and they will make it known and find what we all want to know. Just you wait and see.

Glass half-full.

Now, a lot of you kept asking how I am tracking these miles and I am so sorry I haven't given the shout out earlier...

Surprised I can lift my wrist with all this junk

I track my steps using the amazing Fitbit HR shown here all the way to the right - - naturally in PURPLE! :) It tracks steps, calories, stairs, sleep, almost everything! While we are at it - I should give a shout out to the fabulous Lauren's Hope that fashions my Medical ID bracelets. I LOVE them. I have interchangeable ones. This is my Summer model and it's WATERPROOF. For real.

So, July has proven to be a good month so far...even with some medicine switches that I thought were going to dampen the season. Always look for the silver linings, my friends.

How about you? How are my walkers? Can I add some steps to your totals?

Breaking the 900 mark...and a little bit of motivation

I'm baaaaaaack! WOW! Seeing that my last post on here was from the end of April is disturbing and frustrating and I am SO SORRY! There were so many factors in play - life intervened (naturally) and the site was hacked (seriously, I don't think any of you are interested in on-line gambling!) and, of course, I've been walking. But, really none of that is as important as making sure that I stick with keeping you guys up-to-date so for that I do truly apologize! :)

So, a quick miles update: I have broken the 900 mile mark (cue the highly dramatic fanfare - trumpet preferred)...I am at 904.3 miles! And, I am still seriously trucking along! These Summer days with warmer weather and more TIME to be outside I am averaging 7+ miles a day which is why even though I haven't yet hit the halfway point (and I know I should have) I am totally optimistic that I will. (I think I can. I think I can. I think can. No for real, I will.)

The other reason I will do it...is you guys. I have A LOT of followers now. And, a lot of support. Who knew? I started this by saying... "I am going to walk...a lot. And raise awareness." And, boy, did this take off. So, quitting? Not an option.

And, you followers...you have also kicked it in to high gear. Since my last post I have gotten e-mails from you with a total of 642 miles to add to the thermometer! Check it out on the main page...you guys rock!

So, 1,110.7 miles to go left me thinking about how far that actually is. And I typed it in to Google and it turns out if I started walking there right now, I would end up here:

Sigh.

And since this is my happy place...I think I have my motivation in the bag.

Happy walking! And don't forget to send me your miles! Or your thoughts, questions, or comments! I love hearing from you all!

Am I faster than a 6th grader? Happily not.

Woot! Woot! I'm baaaaaaack! Whereas I am so sorry for the long delay between these posts, I am so happy for the reason....I have been doing what I love and speaking in the schools! Every year during these months, I book up my days speaking to 5th, 6th, and 7th graders about Epilepsy, seizure first aid, my story, anti-bullying, Purple Day, living a good life, making good choices, and on and on and on. I love it - the kids love it - it's seriously the best.

Answering one of the kids amazing questions

This year, with my new "Step Up for Epilepsy" initiative in play, I gave some of the schools I spoke at the opportunity to also add an activity to their awareness day and have the kids walk or run with me and tally their miles so I could add them to the blog in my "Supporter's Miles". The schools were definitely interested in this! So were the kids! I learned quickly that this became a competition of who could get the most awareness miles. I also learned very quickly that I am NOT faster or as fast as a 6th grader. :(

But, I didn't care. A lot of the kids wanted to run or walk with me to ask me more questions. Like, "can a dog get Epilepsy?" Absolutely. Canine Epilepsy is often genetic, which is why it is more common in certain breeds. This is something that makes it different than what we see in humans.

Or, "were you angry when you were diagnosed?" Well, I was angry because a lot of people were telling me things they thought I couldn't do now that I had Epilepsy and they all weren't true. I wasn't angry about the diagnosis - that I could handle, I have a good support system, but I couldn't live with all the false things people were saying about me and Epilepsy. That's why I started talking about it and educating. It's also why I am still doing it today.

And, then this doozy, "do you think you will have another seizure?" I certainly hope not. But, there are days that I know it's a possibility. I just have to keep living my life positively and being healthy and strong. When you start to worry about that stuff is when things start to fall apart.

At the end of my "time in the schools",  I am blown away by how bright, intuitive, and sensitive our junior high kids are. I am blessed to be able to work with them every year!

My Total = 491 Miles (That's Right!)
St. Francis Xavier = 124.5 Miles
Park Jr. High = 330 Miles
Ogden Ave = 89 Miles

Those totals ARE awesome!!!

Getting Brainy in Minnesota

Some events are just so overwhelming that you have to process them before you can actually write about them.  This weekend was one of those events.

I went to the first Purple Day Walk for Epilepsy & Brain Games! It was emotional and amazing and crazy and just so beyond expectations I am having a hard time putting it all in to words!

Soooo cool, right?

The walk was held at Minnesota's famed Mall of America, which is just GIANT and an amazing venue for the walk. Everything was purple. Cassidy, the fantastic founder of Purple Day and special guest for the walk, has always talked about just wanting to see everything purple and I think we accomplished that. You could hardly see another color around!

It started in the morning with a PURPLE carpet and professional pictures - my husband and I jumped in on that action!

I know, we ARE adorbs.

And then, I was SO blessed to finally meet the fantastic women from the Anita Kaufmann Foundation that I have been working with for the past 5 years - Debbie and Ann Marie. They are the driving forces behind Purple Day here in the U.S. and let me tell you - meeting them was a huge thrill! For every question I have, for every time I'm stuck, for every single thing I need they are there for me...I couldn't thank them more!

Me and Debbie - can I bottle her energy?!? (Oh and a couple of Purple friends!)

Ann Marie - 1,000 hugs can't thank her enough!

Then Cassidy arrived with her mom, Angela, and they gave a moving speech which started the waterworks - Jeff called it that I would cry! But, truly having everyone all together made me realize what I am working for, why I am here, why I am walking, and how far we have come. 

Cassidy - what an inspiration!

After the walk, I was so happy to connect with so many others who share a similar story to mine - either advocates or who have Epilepsy or have loved ones who do. Our connections are so strong and we all want the same thing - the lingering stigma to go away. But, days like this make me feel like anything is possible. :)

Miles walked: 380

Awareness Raised: More than I can count!

RIP Blueberry...thanks for the miles :)

I was completely obsessed with our car. It was more than just transportation - it was an accessory, a soundboard, if I want to be honest, a friend (so sad). We affectionately called it Blueberry because it's a very blue jeep and in homage to one of the best television shows ever - "Psych".

Blueberry was purchased just before our son was born so we had a 4-door car to bring him home from the hospital in. In Blueberry, we have roadtripped, celebrated good news, found our new home, adopted our dog, Flynn, and basically all grown up. But, through all that - Blueberry grew old and started to not be our reliable "best friend".

It was time to find a new Blueberry.

This became particularly evident when last Thursday, Blueberry didn't start and left me walking 12 miles all over town to run errands for the next couple days. (Mantra: Awareness miles. Awareness miles. Awareness miles.)

On Saturday, we went out and bought a new car. It's a blue jeep.

Saying goodbye to Blueberry 1.0

Total Miles = 301

(Thanks for those extra miles, Blueberry)

My Dad's Snoring and Why I Love It

I said when I started this blog that I would get in to my personal story of Epilepsy and so far I have only scratched the surface. So, I dedicate this blog to my Dad's snoring.

I tease my Dad endlessly about his snoring - it is truly something out of Looney Tunes or an old Disney short (imagine a blanket rising up and down over the bed). But, in reality, the sound of my Dad snoring and the fact that he is actually sleeping is music to my ears. Here's why:

My first seizure was in the fall of my Sophomore year of high school. I was on a high - I was in the middle of an extraordinary tennis season that I worked really hard for, my grades were great, and I had an amazing group of friends. And then, one night I went to bed, I woke up in the middle of the night, and my parents heard me slam up against the bathroom door and engage in a 4 1/2 minute full body seizure. That's it - there were no signs, no symptoms, no stressors. My folks were blindsided.

To hear them recount this tale then - "we heard a thud, we tried to push open the door, there was nothing you could do, you just want to hold them and know you can't" - was horrible.  But, to hear them recount it now that I am a parent it is just devastating. I can't even imagine what my parents were going through, but I try and it makes us closer.

About 10% of the world's population has just one seizure in their lifetime, so after that first seizure and appointments with Neurologists, I was told to just wait it out and see.  But, my Dad didn't really sleep again. I can remember coming home at night, going to the bathroom at night, waking up earlier than him in the morning - in high school, Summers during college, even as an adult when my husband and I briefly lived with my folks while our house was being worked on and my Dad saying "Brig, is that you - everything ok?" And me saying, "Go back to sleep" with a smile.

Now 14-years seizure free and a parent and I finally hear my Dad snoring sometimes I think - yep, I get it. And, I love you too.

Daddy's Girl

Grin and Bear it...

When you are still 25 degrees below the average temperature in your beloved city - sometimes you just have to grin and bear it.  So, this past week, my mini-me and I took to the streets of Chicago and did some walking...in a sleet storm. It was not my best walking and we stopped (twice) for hot chocolate and tea but at the end of the day we got in 5 miles and a lot of awareness!

On the train and finally warm

In other news, it is finally MARCH - which means we are celebrating everything PURPLE!!  Who's with me?!?! I have so many events (presentations, school walk-a-thons, lollipop sales) going on this month - but I am SO looking forward to the first ever Purple Day Walk for Epilepsy and Brain Games! Anyone joining me? You can register at : http://purpledayeveryday.org/events/moawalk/

Finally, I have to give a huge shout out to my followers!!  I have heard from many of you this month who have been walking like crazy (putting me to shame really) and your new total (insert trumpet fanfare) is 1,105 miles!!! Keep moving - I am SO proud!!