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The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota Blog

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Everett Forbes – Socializing & Gaining Independence

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Everett Forbes found a new way to make friends and socialize over the past year, despite the challenges of limited in-person events. He began attending virtual Teen Connect Groups in early 2020 and now finds the gatherings a regular part of his schedule where he gets to “do fun things”

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Scott Buisman – Workplace Seizures & Employment Protections

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Scott Buisman has always been open about his epilepsy and absence seizures. He’s had seizures at work in the past and they’ve never been a problem. But a recent seizure caused him to fall and be knocked-out, leading to a hospital visit. With no major injuries he returned to work,

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Clinician’s Corner: Transitioning from the Pediatric to the Adult Epilepsy Clinic

- Clinician's Corner

By: Jeannine Conway, PharmaD, BCPS and Katherine Nickels, MD The transition of children into adolescence and adulthood can be exciting for the whole family. However, this can also be a time for anxiety, especially for children with chronic health conditions. Preparing children and their families is important to make this transition

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Derrick Dawson – Medication, Memory, and Independence

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Derrick Dawson is a social person. When he lost his warehouse job in 2019, it meant less time with his friends and co-workers. When COVID forced us to bring organizational events online, it meant he wouldn’t be able to attend the in-person events he enjoys, like Studio-E Art Sessions, Connect

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Kyah Altiere – Advocate For Yourself and Others

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Advocacy can be done in many ways, in many places, and for many reasons. Kyah Altiere has made advocacy an important part of her life since the time she was prescribed toxic levels of her anti-seizure medication. This is when she became an advocate for herself, which transitioned into her

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Legislative Priority: Seizure Smart Schools

- Advocacy

A strong push for Seizure Smart Schools Legislation in 2021 is how we make schools a safer place for students with epilepsy.

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Q&A With Mollie Clark, EFMN Advocacy and Public Policy Manager

- Advocacy

At the end of 2020 we welcomed Mollie Clark to our team to fill the newly created Advocacy and Public Policy Manager position. In addition to meeting with legislators at the Minnesota State Capitol and advocating for policy important to the epilepsy community, she also works with advocates like you

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Allen Bauer Jr – With Challenges Come Victories

- Thriving with Epilepsy

The Bauer family includes parents Jenny and Allen, as well as five boys who range in age. The youngest is Allen Jr, who developed epilepsy after severe head trauma at the age of six. The entire Bauer family supports Allen Jr, and his victories are family victories.

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Epilepsy Awareness Month: Jon’s Blog Post

- Epilepsy Awareness Month

This is really important information to know because what to try or not try can make seizures last longer and possibly worse. Because if they’re ever with a person with epilepsy and they start to see them have a seizure, they need to know what makes them safer and what does not.

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Epilepsy Awareness Month: Kyah’s Blog Post

- Epilepsy Awareness Month

Hi, my name is Kyah Altiere.  For the past 5 ½ years I have been a counselor at a substance abuse clinic.  I never realized how much I had in common with people living with opiate addictions.  Stay with me here, I’ve never used any illicit drugs.  Our clinic is

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