The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota Blog

By: Tammy Sinkfield-Morey, DNP, RN, PHN, CRRN, EFMN Professional Advisory Board Member The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (EFMN) committed to fully integrate the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion into its mission. This is a commitment to embrace standards of “fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while

Growing up with epilepsy is hard. It’s scary and isolating. Some know this first-hand, while others know it from raising a child with epilepsy. Parents and family members give much-needed support, but for kids with epilepsy, finding others who understand what they’re going through is important. This is the reason

Josh Rahman likes being part of things bigger than himself. He played football in high school and is now doing the same in college. He’s also working towards a degree in Criminal Justice so that he can help others, and has a drive to educate people about epilepsy and raise

Olivia Devaraj’s path to advocating for the epilepsy community started before she attended the 2019 Epilepsy Advocacy Day at the Capitol. It even started before she officially reached out to the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (EFMN). As a 7th grader, Olivia heard about an art therapy program that helped people

Cluster seizures are more likely to occur in patients who have more difficulty in controlling seizures, or refractory epilepsy, which is defined as having failed more than 2 seizure medications. Cluster seizures occur more often in patients with focal epilepsy but can occur in generalized epilepsy as well.

Cody Semrow is only nine years old, but his journey with epilepsy includes a misread MRI, multiple medication changes, unpredictable side effects, and, of course, seizures. However, it also includes a special friendship between Cody and his favorite musician, Jason Gray. This past summer the Semrow family organized a benefit

Epilepsy can be diagnosed at any point in someone’s life. There are currently more than 300,00 seniors with epilepsy in the US, and they’ve been identified as the population with the most rapid growth of epilepsy diagnoses. The most common provocations in seniors with epilepsy are stroke, degenerative disorders such

In the fall of 2017, Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (EFMN) staff and board of directors gathered in a conference room at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. Together, they put the finishing touches on a comprehensive 2018-2020 strategic plan which included a foundational pillar of connecting with more communities. Two years

Ary Rodeghiero hasn’t had a seizure since 2010 thanks to her medication. However, the medication has its side effects, which has caused her to undergo recent EEG testing to determine the best plan going forward. Although seizures don’t affect Ary’s everyday life, epilepsy does. “We got connected to EFMN by

Laura Roloff was diagnosed with epilepsy just one year ago. After meeting with doctors and learning how her life was about to change, she wasn’t sure how to tell her kids. Before she got that chance, Laura had a seizure at home, and her 11-year-old son Keyan was the only