You never know what life holds for you, no matter how ahead of life you seem to be. Emily Grace, a girl who shone as bright as the sun and who not only had positive high energies but also made everyone around her happy and seemed to be thriving, had to go through something traumatic. When she turned one, the baby was already walking, and her sentence formation was a whole ten when she turned two.
Everyone was amazed at how fast the baby learnt, so the teachers insisted she be placed in the gifted programme. For such children, countless opportunities are encountered in the journey; however, things take a turn when Emily shows signs of concern. Little did the family and people who adored her know that there was something big, something deep hidden behind her intelligence. It would change her life forever, snatching away the limitless possibilities they expected for her. When she turned three, the baby was often complaining about having frequent, extreme headaches. Not just this, her fatigue and nausea got out of hand.
She often zoned out in school during lectures; however, when her parents decided to take little Emily to the doctor, they dismissed the concerns, labeling them as usual and nothing to worry about. They said it could be because of weak eyesight or genetic migraines, but it was too early to give a proper diagnosis. However, when Emily entered grade three, the symptoms got worse, as her eyes were glazed, and her ability to talk was slurred. It got so serious that it looked like someone who was drunk was talking, but despite the apparent symptoms, no medicines worked, and no doctor could give a proper diagnosis for her condition.
The parents later decided to move back to Georgia, where they lived in Warner Robins. There, they met a pediatrician, Dr. Helen Moore. Rather than suspecting her condition, labelling them as migraines, the doctor clearly told the parents that they were seizures, and a few tests had to be done immediately. Right after resting, Emily was officially diagnosed with non-compulsive epilepsy. The seizures were different from any usual seizures and lasted up to hours. Emily became unresponsive, and even for days, the episodes continue. The episodes looked like Emily was in deep sleep; however, it was when her brain had shut down for recovery. This happens because of electrical misfiring.
Over the years, every day is a new challenge for Emily, and her condition has become more complex as the doctors also diagnosed her with ESEs and epileptic encephalopathy, a condition in which the brain misfires constantly even when she’s asleep. Emily’s days are mostly about sleeping, and the worst one was when she continually slept for over twenty hours with only a few minutes of being up. Even when she woke up during the night, she was seen struggling with remembering things and was confused. This is a significant indication of how her cognition has been declining. The parents are heartbroken by how their bright Emily is now fighting for life daily, and even basic tasks like brushing her teeth or remembering her loved ones are now challenging.
There are days spent in the hospital and countless medications Emily has taken, but on days she is in pain, it seems like nothing is working out for her. Through genetic testing, it was also revealed that Emily has two rare mutations, which are the key reasons behind her Epilepsy.
The doctor recommended that she get a brain surgery, but it includes high risk as her condition isn’t stable on most days, and high risks are associated with it. With all that she is going through, life for Emily is a challenge; however, she is an inspiration for many and keeps her family going. In a speech, Emily stated that he has a purpose as long as a person breathes. Thus, it shows that although it has affected her life, it can not take over her spirit and smile!
