I'm fundraising for Epilepsy Action this Purple Day to help make sure people with epilepsy continue to get the support they need. The same support that I have received over the years.

I have had tonic-clonic seizures, from the age of 7, to begin with my  seizures this happened every three years. at the age of 16 then I would have yearly seizures with multiple tonic-clonic seizures. I would feel like a kettle brewing wanting to have a seizure and once it was over I would feel good but in pain and would have a sore head, swollen tongue along with other injuries at times, then after this I would feel like me again.

It wasn’t until 2012 when I went to the University College London National Hospital and was referred on to chalfont centre and they then diagnose me with having, tonic-clonic seizures, complex partial seizures, absence seizures, this probably explained some of my childhood feeling sick, twitchy at times and staring I just had coping mechanisms to carry on with life and not tell anyone .

In February 2015 a week’s further testing at the London national Hospital for video recording where I was able to then see myself have a tonic-clonic seizure.

 As the doctors and surgeons were not conclusive on all the evidence so far all where my epilepsy was coming from the referred me for intracranial surgery where I had nine probes is inserted into my brain in September 2017 the activity recorded 43 seizures in 2 and ½ days

 I was then told I was at high risk of sudden death epilepsy, at this point I was now faced with the option of brain surgery to remove part of my right temporal lobe I spent 2 ½ months deciding on the operation before saying yes and on 2 July 2018 I underwent right temporal lobe reduction. Recovery from surgery was much harder and slower than I had expected inside I felt lost and in pain “your head is killing you, you can’t sleep. No one wants to keep hearing your story and you feel alone.” I reached my lowest point in February 2019 and I could not go on, but from support from my family,  Dr Ericsson (neurologist) and GP and being involved in epilepsy action and speaking to others with the condition meant I got the help I needed. 

“Some days are great, some days it feels like you’re trying to climb Mount Everest. You just need to get the right support at the right time to get you through any situation.

 Surgery has reduced my seizures but has not fully got rid of my seizures I’m still having complex partial seizure, absence seizures last tonic-clonic seizure was 19 months ago, my symptoms have reduced slightly with some medication changes but I do lead a full life, I go to work, I’m able to football coach, able to be as independent as I am just with certain support barriers to enable me to be independent.

I have an amazing wife called Jo and one brilliant daughter called Evie, 3 brilliant stepchildren Dean, Darryl, Ashleigh and their children Hunter, Oakley and Roman who i have had lots of support from. Also support from my mum & dad, brother and sister.

This purple day from the support from my family I will be doing a virtual London to Brighton bike ride, a online raffle then to finish the day off a virtual escape room with my family.

If you can donate anything at all, it would mean alot to me and the charity.

Thankyou