Epilepsy Misinformation

My book, "The Village" is to show how the "lack of knowledge" of epilepsy can be harmful to a person. I did not write this book as if I was trying to "cure" epilepsy, I wrote it to show how "society" views people with epilepsy if they are not educated.

Now, take away the fact the you know me if you do. (I know it is hard to do; great guy,athlete,hard-worker, great father and not bad-looking either) Truly I know it is hard but try an put those thoughts aside for a moment. ( O.K. times up!) LOL!

A number of you also know I have epilepsy but epilepsy does not have me. There are over 20 different types of seizures. THE ARTICLE DOES NOT STATE WHAT TYPE OF SEIZURE THE YOUNG MAN HAD! This leads one to believe that epilepsy is fatal in all cases! THIS IS NOT TRUE!

Please read the information I have sent you abut the "article" that was in the Sunday's Jan.9,2011 Virginian Pilot newspaper about "Epilepsy". It is on page three(3) and is tittled 

EPILEPSY TRAGEDY TURNS BOYS PARENTS INTO PASSIONATE ACTIVISTS,EDUCATORS.

Here is a link to a copy of the story:

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/virginian-pilot-ledger-star-norfolk/mi_8014/is_20110109/epilepsy-tragedy-turns-boys-parents/ai_n56629311/ 

My goal with my novel,"The Village" is to help educate people about this neurological condition. I also want to take away the "fear" that many people have when they hear the term "epilepsy". The first thoughts that come to most people's mind is:

1. The person falls to the ground
2. They start shaking (seizure)
3. They might even "swallow' their tongue! ( this can not be done)

Now with the article in the paper, do you think of a person "dying"? Well this is how the article starts:"Epilepsy takes as many as 50,000 lives each year."

That number is based on a total of 50 million people in the world having epilepsy but the article does not show this for people to understand. That is less than 1%!

Please read the article in the link above and give me you response in your Comment on this Post:

• Does it scare you
• Do you feel more informed to the degree where if you saw someone having a seizure, you would think about "death"?
• For those who know me, having proven I can be successful with epilepsy, does this story make you want to learn more about epilepsy?