Challenging School Years with ADD and Epilepsy by Blake

Challenging School Years with ADD and Epilepsy by Blake - April 2019 Scholarship Essay

Not long into my first grade year of elementary school, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and then with Epilepsy three months later. Schoolwork was challenging for me in my earlier school years with these health conditions. Seven years later, I thankfully grew out of the Epilepsy.

In October 2007, during my first grade year of elementary school, I was really struggling with reading, reading comprehension and math. My teacher recommended me for extra help and talked with my parents. My parents decided to speak with my pediatrician who diagnosed me with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Throughout my elementary and middle school years, I had several tutors and was tested to see if I needed special classes since my grades were not so good. My Mom even met with the school psychiatrist, Assistant Principle and some of my teachers a couple times. I always did well on the tests, therefore, no special classes were needed. But, I was provided with teacher aids to help me learn and understand the school work a little better. There were many frustrating and long hours of homework with my parents which was very stressful most nights. What should have taken me a few minutes, sometimes took hours. For a couple of years, my parents also paired me with an amazing tutor who really worked with me on different ways of learning and helped me with homework. I would also go to after school tutoring at a local church for a couple of years which was overseen by one of my most favorite teachers. This wonderful teacher always took the time to help me out and keep my parents informed of the progress.

Focusing is a big deal for me and still is sometimes, but the daily medication prescribed helps with this issue. I used to have to take medicine several times a day as the insurance at the time would not approve for the time released medicine. This meant I had to go see the nurse at school each day to take medicine. Then a few years later, insurance approved to have the time released medicine which is only taken once a day.

A little after 9 A.M. in my first grade class in January 2008, according to another one of my amazing teachers, I slumped down in my seat on my left side and had my first seizure. I was rushed straight to the emergency room at our local hospital, and had several tests run. Then the same day I went to a neurologist who ran more tests. Then in February 2008, about 10 P.M. I was sitting in the recliner with my Dad watching television, and had another seizure. The third seizure came on a day off from school at my sitters’ house. I was laying in the floor alongside a girl watching television, and she said I started kicking the entertainment center. My parents contacted my pediatrician who this time suggested they take me to a reputable medical facility with numerous doctors who specialize in Epilepsy. My parents got all of my medical records and drove about three hours to the emergency room at this medical facility. They ran several tests and determined I had Epilepsy and put me on seizure medication. My parents met with the school to ensure there were individuals trained to deal with Epilepsy patients and knew how to administer the Diastat medication if needed (which is administered if a seizure goes over a certain period of time). The school even talked with the students in my class on what to do if I ever had another seizure or anyone else. The morning of April 14, 2008, I was in gym before school started playing with several other students. According to one student, I slowly started going down and she helped me to the floor. My parents contacted my pediatrician along with the physicians at the medical facility and they increased the seizure medication. I had many follow up appointments at this medical facility over the course of having Epilepsy. One of the first doctors I saw at this medical facility always thought I would grow out of Epilepsy since my Dad did and I only had four known seizures. I have had many EEG’s, several twenty four hour EEG’s, and a videoed EEG of which I was hospitalized at this medical facility for three days straight so they could monitor my movements every second. The videoed EEG was to determine if I was still having any mild focused related seizures. In 2015, the medical facility released me from their care since I had been seizure free for many years. Then in July 2017, we went back to have another EEG, just to ensure there were still no mild focused related seizures. Again, the medical facility released me. Football was a sport I really wanted to play but the doctors always told me it was not a good idea. However, while growing up, I played in county soccer, county basketball, city and county baseball leagues. Also, I have been a youth member of our local bowling association for fourteen years.

I am blessed to say, though I had some challenges in my earlier school years, I have thankfully overcome. Also, I am proud to say I am on the Honor Roll. I will continue striving to excel with everything put before me.