Dan’s Story
I remember when Emily and I were first dating a few years ago. My friends would ask me, “Aren’t you worried about what would happen if she has a seizure? Can you deal with that?” I would always find that such a strange question. I could never see how having epilepsy would ever be a problem in our relationship as much as having asthma or another medical condition would be for others. For me, it was such an insignificant issue. I wanted to be with Emily for who she was as a person.
On Dating
I will admit that during our first few months once we were in a relationship, I would always worry what to do if she had a seizure as I had never seen one before. But, Emily was always so supportive in educating me on what to do and what to expect, which really did make the difference. Though there will always be some worry in the back of my mind of ‘What if something goes wrong’ because she’s my soulmate, and I don’t want anything to ever happen to her.
When things get tough
I remember most recently when Emily ended up in hospital in a bad state, my heart sank. Seizures can make someone so vulnerable. Although I’m a nurse and I’m used to seeing patients in hospital beds, nothing could prepare me to see her in that bed, all her IVs up and her body almost lifeless. It broke my heart to see her like this but I knew I had to stay strong for her and just be by her side.
Last thoughts
Experiences like that make our relationship stronger because we support each other. We really do appreciate every bit of good health and time that we spend together. I am so proud to be Emily’s partner, and feel lucky that I get to be by her side supporting her through her writing, her support groups and charity work. Her motivation and passion for life is an inspiration, and I am glad to be a part of her journey.
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