Page 103 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2017

GIVING BACK awareness & advocacy
MISSISSIPPI
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
photos courtesy of Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi
LEFT: An advocate for the Epilepsy Foundation goes to the state capital. RIGHT: Young foundation members too.
This article is dedicated to lives lost to SUDEP. Pictured is the memorial wall for Epilepsy Foundation
of Mississippi’s 2017 memorial
at Brighter Nights for Epilepsy Awareness. Kelsey Williams, Jenna Robinson, Parris Michelle Wallace and Lance Carter.
departments, teachers, organizations, and parents about emergency procedures for seizures and what they can look like. The organization also has a variety of youth programs which encourage youth leadership opportunities.
In 1963, the Epilepsy Foundation
of Mississippi (EFM) was chartered under its original name, the Mississippi Council on Epilepsy. Prior to its creation, anyone interested in spreading epilepsy awareness would meet in private homes of individuals in the Jackson area. In 1970, the Council became an affiliate of the Epilepsy Foundation of America and changed its name to the Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi. EFM
made a name for itself as the first affiliate in America to establish a free epilepsy camp, and is still one of seven affiliates to provide a free summer camp for children with epilepsy. The group is now one of 47 affiliates of the Epilepsy Foundation of America
“Our organization has three main goals,” said Arielle Palady, South Mississippi programs coordinator. “We aim to reach those families and individuals who struggle with daily living due to their seizure disorder or epilepsy and to get these individuals
the support and help needed, spread awareness on Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which takes place when an individual passes away spontaneously when they have previously been in a healthy state, and to get our community educated.”
According to Palady, educating businesses, teachers, and parents on epilepsy and seizures is one of the best ways to save lives and eliminate the fear and negative stigmas that are still attached to epilepsy and seizures today.
“Seizures are nothing to panic about or be afraid of as long as people are educated,” Palady said. “If parents are educated on safe procedures and how to care for a child who is having a seizure, then both parties will have peace of mind.”
EFM spreads awareness and advocacy for epilepsy through its prevention and education program. This program brings free professional training to businesses, police
Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi | 601.936.5222 | www.epilepsy-ms.org
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