In 2023, just a week before her 6th birthday, Marley experienced her first seizure and was later diagnosed with focal right-sided epilepsy. This type of epilepsy means her seizures affect the right side of her body.

At birth, Marley went through a prolonged labour and suffered a stroke. She had to be resuscitated after an emergency C-section. As a result, she has bilateral brain damage, with the left side of her brain affected more than the right. The scar tissue from this damage is the cause of her epilepsy.

She currently takes two types of medication morning and night, and we also carry a rescue medication, Epistatus, which is used if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.

Managing epilepsy can be a constant balancing act, but Marley faces it all with so much energy, humour, and resilience. At just 8 years old, she continues to amaze us with how well she adapts to the regular check-ups and changes that come with her condition.

Because epilepsy and mental health are so closely linked, we’ve made exercise an important part of Marley’s routine. Movement supports those happy hormones and helps create a healthier balance, one of the things we can control as we work towards better seizure management.

This September, we’re taking on 60 Miles for Epilepsy Awareness. You can walk, run, cycle or swim your miles — every step helps raise awareness and funds for research into epilepsy.

We’d love for you to support us, or even join in and complete your own 60 miles.

Together, we can spread awareness, encourage conversations, and move towards a future with better understanding and treatments for epilepsy. 💜

Epilepsy Scotland works with people living with epilepsy to ensure that their voice is heard. Around 80,000 people in Scotland live with epilepsy and we are here for anyone with this common serious neurological condition, their families, carers and employers.

We believe that people living with epilepsy have a right to be free from stigma and discrimination, have access to high quality medical, social, educational, support and information services be valued and included in society and determine their own way of life