Its long winded but ill try condense it as some of you may not even know the full story or have never felt comfortable to ask. So here is my story.

Years ago when me and my sister were a lot younger we went on holiday with my parents to Australia. When visiting an Australian school with some family friends (a bit of a trial run to emigrate over there) my sister ended up having her first epileptic fit right in front of me, completely out of the blue with no previous medical conditions etc. I was roughly 11 years old and my sister 14.

Later that day Rebecca ended up having multiple back to back seizures and the panic set in for the family. She ended up in a coma on an intensive care ward and it was touch and go. The holiday ended up weeks within a hospital. Rebecca finally came round however woke back up with severe epilepsy, slight brain damage and short term memory loss, having to learn how to read, write and even initially couldn't remember who our dad was.

Very hard to digest as a family considering before this Rebecca had a full happy and healthy life ahead of her and she was extremely clever she definitely got the acedemic genes!

Rebecca ended up in a special school for young adults with severe epilepsy and was loved by all the carers who I am hugely grateful for. Their help enabled my parents to have some what of a normal life once again. I started secondary school around then and it was tricky for me as I felt I had to hide this part of my life from friends and keep it separate, as we all know growing up can be tough and with what people can say I constantly felt I had to have a guard up around my private family life.

Fast forward to 2013. I've passed out of basic training and am now at phase 2 training in the British army in the Royal Artillery. My sister at this point has since moved back to our home town and has around the clock care and has her own bungalow. I am in back to back briefs of what's to come and I get told to leave the room and follow one of the Bombardiers in charge of me. He sits me in a room and leaves, I'm now wondering what the hell I've done wrong! He comes back in and explains to me that my dad is trying to get onto the camp and if I have any idea why? I reply no.......

The bombardier returns back into the room and simply says "mate, get yourself back to your troop office now".

I start marching back then running, somethings not right and I can feel it. Has my grandma passed away? I get into my troop office and come to attention in front of my sergeant major and troop sergeant and see my dad sitting down.....he turns to me and simply says you might want to sit down.

Some how instantly I knew...My sister earlier that morning had woken up, had some breakfast. Gone back to sleep, rolled over and had a seizure and suffocated. I returned home with my dad said my goodbyes and returned to camp the same day.

Always keeping myself busy kept my mind off of it and finally with time it was easier to accept what had happened. Me, my mum and dad not only lost a sister, a daughter once but twice.

If you've made it this far congratulations and thank you for hearing the full story! I'll be running for Epilepsy Research Uk as to this day no one knows what caused this to happen to my sister but also as a way for me to honour her memory.

Cheers