I WISH I THAT TYPE OF EPILEPSY, ODD HUH?

     Some people say music comes from the heart.  Other people say
music comes from the soul.  I know someone who writes music form his brain.  My friend, Guy Stoker, writes music and songs following a seizure.  There hasn't been any written before or during a seizure.  Most of his songs are all in reference to the experience of having EPILEPSY.
     Other than writing music, Guy Stoker has written articles that have been published in journals.  One article is in the journal Epilepsy and Behavior 2013.
     His albums, Ictal Variations and Although You Cannot See Me, are on iTunes and CD Baby.  His album Ictal Variations was reviewed by Nicola Swanborough in 2014.  Mrs. Swanborough is with the National Epilepsy Society.
     The Arts Project Epilepsy Foundation Minnesota will feature the Ictal Variations album, and Guy will be giving a video conference lecture at the launch of the event.  Beyond Seizures was an epilepsy art exhibition held by London Brain Project held in 2014 and featured Ictal Variations as one of the exhibitions.

     Not able to stop and smell the roses, as the saying goes, In 2008 The North Devon Branch (Guy's support group) was awarded Epilepsy Action National Branch of the Year.

     Guy Stoker is another amazing person that doesn't let EPILEPSY keep him from showing his TALENT.  Every time I hear his music or talk to Guy, I am a little jealous.  I know that sounds odd.  I stare for thirty seconds during my seizures.  When I come out of my seizure, I thank goodness do go back to what I was doing.  I WOULD LOVE TO WRITE MUSIC!

PAGEANT CONTESTANT AND MARATHON PARTICIPANT IN A WHEELCHAIR

     Pamela Bell is strong willed and persistent to get what she wants.  She is a mother of two sons and a grandmother of four.  Pamela was diagnosed with CAUDA Equina Syndrome making her paraplegic.  The nerves in her lower back (between T-10 to T-12 disks) are damaged due to an injury.  She can stand for a few minutes but is not able to walk.  This makes her paraplegic and mobile in a wheelchair.

     Rapid eye movement had been bothering Pamela for years.  The doctors she saw wanted to say, "It's all in your head".  Not until last year after having a video EEG did they finally diagnose her with petit mal seizures.  You can find video EEG information here:

     http://epilepsy.med.nyu.edu/diagnosis-treatment/eeg/video-eegmonitoring#sthash.RtTBe2G9.dpbs

 

   During this time Pamela was proving that her wheelchair didn't keep her from achieving goals she had set for herself.  She participated in the Wheelchair Marathon Roller for the Wounded Warriors in Jacksonville, NC.  Every year in Asheville, NC there is a Miss Wheelchair NC Pageant.  Pamela has been a contestant  in 2007, 2012, and 2014. She had her first grand mal seizure last year.  Her doctor thinks it is stress related.  Every year Pamela goes with a group called Life Rolls On to the coast.  She catches waves on her surf board.
 
      Now she has her own store called Vera Armetta's Design.  There she designs wedding gowns and formal gowns for ladies in wheelchairs and regular gowns.  The dress shop is in N.C.

                                                                                                                                                                                       

             

     

     

     

BRYAN FARLEY IS A PHOTOGRAPHER WITH A CAUSE

     It takes a twinkle in the eye to know when to capture the image you have been waiting for.  Bryan has that twinkle and teaches a class in California when he isn't traveling finding eventful activities throughout California.  He doesn't travel just to get the pictures of a lifetime to brag about.  He has a cause.  He writes a blog about epilepsy and shows it through his photographs here: http://bryanfarleyphotography.com/ 

     Bryan, like millions of others, has epilepsy.  He raises his voice and shows his cause through his photography.  Every year in Washington,D.C. there is a walk to raise money and awareness for epilepsy.  I have never seen anything being mentioned about the walk on the Nightly News with Tom Brokaw or the Today Show.  Bryan will post many pictures of people walking or even running.  Some people do not even appear to have epilepsy.  Rick Harrison from the Pawn Stars walked in March this year.  You can see Bryan's collection of pictures here: http://bryanfarley.photoshelter.com/gallery/2014-National-Walk-for-Epilepsy/G0000SrIg6Xxoas0/C0000CF6b.6Zv53Y.

     Bryan is a HERO to me for what he has done for EPILEPSY!!  Please take time for me and him to read his blogs or view his photography web site:  http://bryanfarley.photoshelter.com/ .

Please, everyone if you would leave a post on his site that would be wonderful and appreciated.