A Teen Uncovers the Emotional Impacts of Childhood Seizures

This week on Seizing Life®, we speak with Hailey Yoon about the emotional and psychological impacts that childhood epilepsy may have even years after seizures subside.

Hailey Yoon was diagnosed with epilepsy in first grade after her mother noticed that Hailey’s brief staring episodes began occurring more frequently. Despite medication, Hailey continued experiencing absence seizures until sixth grade when they gradually dissipated, and eventually stopped altogether. However, the mental and emotional repercussions of Hailey’s epilepsy have played a part in shaping who she is today at the age of seventeen, an impact that she has only recently begun to recognize and explore. Hailey recounts her epilepsy diagnosis and describes the absence seizures that she experienced as a child. She explains how a recent high school project has led her to examine epilepsy’s influence on her personality, self-esteem, and choices as an adolescent. Hailey also shares a letter that she wrote to other children living with epilepsy today and explains how writing this letter sparked an idea for an epilepsy awareness initiative aimed at supporting kids living with epilepsy. If you are the parent of a child or teen struggling with seizure control, we recommend watching this episode together with them.

CURE Epilepsy invites you to participate in Hailey’s initiative to Send A Message of Encouragement & Hope to a Child with Epilepsy.

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