EPILEPSY FOCUS ON - "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Edmonton Epilepsy Association
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FOCUS ON
MAY-JUNE 2022 ISSUE
EPILEPSY N E W S L E T T E R
“If you change the way you look
at things, the things you look at
change.”
Wayne Dyer
IN President's Message 3
THIS
From My Desk 4
EEA Activity Updates 6
March Epilepsy 9
Awareness Month
ISSUE
Fundraising Updates 11
25 Days for Epilepsy 13
Attitude of Gratitude 21
Epilepsy News 23
EEA Upcoming 32
Activities
Volunteer With Us 36
EEA Calendar 38
EEA Board 39
A NOTE FROM THE EEA
You will note this issue of the EEA Focus On Epilepsy newsletter feels
a bit different. Our newsletter is evolving and we are trying out
different ways to make it more appealing, always insightful and a
strong mean of connection and awareness in the epilepsy
community we serve,
A members' survey we conducted in the spring of this year, told us in
no uncertain terms, that the EEA newsletter is a strong program and
service of our agency, to members, supporters and the community at
large. We are grateful for the reception and the strong support as
many hours go into the creation of our issues every two months.
Continue to share your opinions about our newsletter with us, and
share comments on how we can improve it.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
At our last Board of Directors Meeting, we Our next big event will be held in June. Our
had the opportunity to reflect upon the association celebrates its 62nd anniversary
amazing work that our Executive Director, in June and we plan to celebrate with our 25
Valeria, has been doing for our association. Days for Epilepsy campaign. We are hoping
She has spearheaded so many different and to have members get active, raise some
creative projects and fundraising activities. money, and gather together at the end of
We are truly fortunate to have Valeria the event for a backyard picnic. For anyone
leading our team, and we would like to take who raises or donates at least $40, we also
this opportunity to thank her for all her have some EEA shirts available.
wonderful work.
The EEA aims to meet the needs of
With the help of our many volunteers and members both young and old. We hope to
Sharon Otto, who we are grateful to have see many of our members at our June 25th
back in the office, Valeria was able to event. We also hope to have members tune
organize a very successful series of events in to some of our upcoming webinars. In
for Epilepsy Awareness Month. We were able May, we are hosting a webinar on Paediatric
to share information on epilepsy with the Epilepsy, and in June, our webinar topic is
Edmonton City Council and we coordinated Epilepsy and Seniors. As you read through
Kids on the Block Shows with special this edition of our newsletter, we hope you
appearances from Cassidy Morgan, founder discover one or two events that are just
of Purple Day. We also expanded our right for you.
membership in our March Membership
Drive and lit the High Level Bridge in purple And I look forward to seeing many of you at
for epilepsy awareness. our June 25th event!
| 03 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022
FROM MY DESK
Dear EEA Members and supporters out there,
The main theme of this special EEA Focus on Epilepsy Newsletter Issue this month, is CHANGE.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
This quote we selected for the cover page, permeates our entire issue. Our association is
transforming, and along with it, our members and their needs, and the ways we deliver programs
and services.
Early this spring we conducted a Members' Survey, asking questions about our programs and
services, ensuring our Directors are making the right financial and resource-related choices moving
forward, especially as the world pandemic appears to be winding down, or at least the health
restrictions connected to it. We share the details of those results on page 8.
In short, you told us that this newsletter, the website and our booklets' program, along with social
events and educational webinars, are the top reasons you love our agency, and hope we continue to
support these activities and make them even more effective. Amongst these "top five" list, the one
initiative that suffered the most, remains the social events, which were scarce to non-existent for the
past twenty-four months, due to the pandemic. We heard you, and we are in fact resuming social
activities with two major events in June and December this year, with some changes that we hope
you will welcome.
The educational and awareness building activities also drastically changed in these past two years,
as the entire world moved online, to remain connected. Innovating our delivery of programs was an
essential move to remain relevant, and to maintain our ability to spread the word about this brain
disorder. Expanded access, easier ways to connect and reaching out to experts, as well as the ability
to offer sessions across the province and beyond, were positive outcomes of this important change.
However, we know a good portion of our long-term members, whose needs remain often greater
and more individualized, felt a significant loss of connection, being unable to attend Zoom meetings
or being reached, on a regular basis, by our weekly updates, sharing news and opportunities that
others also offer online. That is the critical reason we established the free lending programs of digital
tablets from our resource library, since early 2021. Any EEA member who learns about this program
can reach out to us, on paper or over the phone, and we can work together on the application. The
program offer the device (the tablet), free training videos (online and on a DVD), as well as up to
| 04 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022
FROM MY DESK
15 hours of individualized training, over the phone, in person or online, to anyone who wishes to
learn how to use the device. This essential program brings about a significant change but one
we are here to help you with and we know, if you chose to make the jump, this will be a change
that will make you feel less isolated, and more connected not only with our community but the
entire larger world out there. To learn more about this program see page 35.
Going back to the survey results, we are grateful for many of you telling us we are doing a
fantastic job, for a small and mighty agency, and we also heard those of you who shared your
impressions with us that we have shifted our service focus, to mainly youth and families. While
we stand by our renewed efforts to reach out to all levels of our constituencies, and that a good
portion of our membership growth has in fact been in the area of younger members and their
families, we truly believe we place similar efforts in supporting all our members, regardless of
their age and epilepsy diagnosis. To this end, we present you with a list of our ongoing and
upcoming services in this issue, in three categories, to ease the classification of our supports:
programs and services aimed specifically at adults (eighteen years or older) , youth and families
and common programs that support both groups. I invite you to review page 32 for the
complete list, and continue to share with us your impressions of what else we can do to reach
out to you, in changed but still effective ways.
For a registered charity with almost 62 years on our shoulders, impacting an average of 5,000
people per year, with two paid staff, over 30 steady volunteers and almost 250 registered
members, we strive to find ways to stretch our dollars to the maximum, always keeping in mind
the best ways to serve you.
Funding remains our critical challenge, and, in the name of change we invite you to explore the
upcoming month-long campaign for awareness and fundraising, we are calling "25 Days For
Epilepsy", which is set to run between June 1 and 25, 2022.
The campaign will focus on daily learnings and reflections on the connection between physical
and mental wellbeing and epilepsy, and we are looking for Fundraising Champions to set a
challenge during the month of June, and raise funds for epilepsy and the EEA, culminating in a
Summer Backyard Celebration at our office, on June 25, 2022. Read all about this campaign
starting on page 22 - there are so many ways you can contribute to the campaign and
celebration!
Let's celebrate together! Valeria
| 05 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022
Marnie S. at the EEA office with
Jace . D Blake A.
her Quilt.
EEA ACTIVITY UPDATES
In every issue of our newsletter we like to Our first quilt giveaway
update everyone on all the initiatives, Two recipients of the Garry Hannigan's
programs and key services we provide. Scholarship for sports
Since the beginning of March and all The March Membership Drive recipient of
through April 2022, we continued to be busy our special prize
with supporting our members, while still Kids Upfront Fun
offering remote programs, connecting with Our French Booklets Update project
the community in remote ways (the collaboration
pandemic still looms large on all of us), and Webinars and Families Online
ensuring we collect the stories, sharing the Conversation Sessions
support with one another and engaging Results of our Members' Survey
with our members in any way we can.
QUILT GIVEAWAY
These updates are not everything we do in Marnie S. was our first recipient of the Quilt
the two months that pass from one issue to Program Giveaway. Marnie has lived with
the other, but they do summarize the key epilepsy for a very long time, and was very
events and initiatives we are most grateful about the gift. This quilt was donated
passionate about. by Kris Zielinski, one of our EEA Board
Directors. To learn more about how you can
In this issue's update we list the following apply for this free program check this link or
key highlights: call our office.
| 06 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022
GARRY HANNIGAN'S SCHOLARSHIP
FOR SPORTS
We awarded this special scholarship for
sports and activities to two youth who
are members of the EEA: Jace D. and
Blake A. The goal of the scholarship is to
support youth with epilepsy in pursuing
dreams about being active. joining
sports' teams and fulfilling their dreams.
Congratulations to Jace and Blake!
MARCH MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
One of our goals in the month of March,
Epilepsy Awareness Month, was to
increase our members. We reached a sports, festivals and special events, by
total of 9 new members, which is a great accessing free tickets through the
achievement for us. As an incentive to agency. This included special Oilers'
join we rana special drive, and Jen L. was Game tickets for Khalia P. and her
our winner of the prize. One key strategic family. These are wonderful moments
goal of the EEA remains a 25% increase in EEA families get to share together, for
members over each year. Join us today if free, as a perk of our membership!
you are not a member yet!
EEA EPILEPSY INFORMATION
KIDS UPFRONT BOOKLETS - FRENCH PROJECT
Another service of our agency, is to We are excited to have started this
partner with Kids Upfront, and offer our important project for our association. In
member families, with children under collaboration with Épilepsie section de
the age of 18, opportunities to experience Québec, we will update all 11 titles of our
booklet series into French. This is long
overdue. Learn more about our
booklets at this link or contact us for
more details.
WEBINARS AND ONLINE MEETINGS
We continue our important
collaboration with Epilepsy Association
of Calgary, EAC, in our Epilepsy
Education Webinar series. We offered
two great sessions in March: one session
about transitions into adulthood and
one about epilepsy and genetics.
Attending the sessions live, on Zoom is
always free and the best way to access
panelists and ask questions. We build
resources in video format on our Khalia and her borther at an Oilers
website at https://albertaeweb.ca/. Game
| 07 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022
EEA MEMBERS' SURVEY
As we continue to work on the
strategic goals set in our strategic plan
for 2022-2024, we asked all our
members to share their opinions on
which programs the EEA offers to you,
that are most valued and most useful.
You told us the following:
We love your Newsletter, your
Website, the Booklets, Social Events
and your Webinars!
Please organize adult focus groups
or social groups.
We hope to have access to
individual counselling sessions for
mental health specific to epilepsy.
We take your comments to heart, and
plan to resource these programs and
services accordingly. The newsletter is
also on top of our agenda, as it has
become, in the past two years, the key
communication tool with our
A thank you card from an EEA member
members who are not digitally
to office staff and volunteers.
connected. We receive thank you
cards, and greeting cards for those of
you out there, who read about us on
the paper version of this newsletter.
You are in our hearts, always!
As per individual counselling services,
we are applying for grants to pilot new
programs, over the phone, with
certified staff, and we are planning two
wonderful in-person events for this
year: the Backyard Party, on June 25,
2022 (read more about it on pages 22
and following), and a Holiday Party on
December 10, 2022.
As per the other key programs, we
continue to focus our energies on
them and follow your comments to
improve them each year!
Cleo in purple.
| 08 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022
Members of the Epilepsy Paediatric Clinic at the
Stollery Children's Hospital.
MARCH EPILEPSY
AWARENESS MONTH
Change was certainly in the air for all our initiatives and
programs to celebrate March as Epilepsy Awareness
Month. From our daily posts on social media, to the visit
to City Councillor, Erin Rutherford, for Anirniq Ward,
along with her call during a councillors' meeting about
Purple Day, on March 26, 2022.
We offered digital live performances of the Kids on the
Block show, with a special host, Cassidy Megan, the
founder of Purple Day. People from across Canada joined Cassidy Megan, Fonder of Purple Day
introducing the KOB shows on
the shows and gave us the chance to teach about
March 25, 2022
epilepsy to younger crowds.
EEA Volunteers meeting with Councilor Erin
March Epilepsy Banners on a Bridge.
Rutherford, at City Hall in Edmonton.
| 09 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022
MARCH EPILEPSY
AWARENESS MONTH (CONT)
We took part in the city bridge banners' program, offered
two sessions on epilepsy education, awarded two
scholarships, increased our membership by 9 new
members (our agency record to date), and increased our
social media presence exponentially. In other words folks
heard us, paid attention and learned a bit about epilepsy,
which is one of our core mission foci.
We rana successful 50-50 fundraising initiative in
collaboration with the Oil Kings, shared purple bracelets
and ribbons with many schools across Alberta and
actively increased understanding of epilepsy in the
Jace and his dad.
community!
Two young EEA members after the meeting
with City Councillor.
Blake enjoying winter activities.
| 10 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022Julia and Cam sorting our soups.
FUNDRAISING UPDATES
We love to update you all about our progress and initiatives we organize to raise funds for our agency.
In case you did not know this about the EEA, we follow a fundraising model that helps us remain fully
independent. Casino remains an anchor of our financial survival, along with donations, grant writing
and fundraising initiatives that make up the rest of our yearly budget. Our association has a proud
track record of surplus, in its 62-years of history, even in challenging times. This speaks to the
generosity of all of you, members and supporters, who help us keep our doors open, from year to year.
We list here the key initiatives for the past two months, and tell you a bit more about our largest
fundraising campaign for 2022 in the next page, which we run under the program of the Shaw
Charity Classic, Birdies for Kids. The key fundraising initiatives since our last update include:
Ongoing Online Donations - when you visit our donation
page at https://edmontonepilepsy.org/donate/ you find the
best way for you to contribute to our financial sustainability!
We collaborated with the 50/50 Raffle organized by the Oil
Kings, for their March 27, 2022 game. Our goal for the game
was $6,000. A genuine thank you goes to the 18 volunteers
who attended the game in person to help with the sale of
tickets and to all of you who purchased a ticket or two!
We also ran our very first Soup Sales Campaign, and
generated over $600 in profits, along with some tasty
dinners! We are considering running this campaign later in
the year, when soups will be back along with colder weather!
SkipTheDepot Donations continue. Remember to donate
your recyclables to us!
| 11 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022Shaw Charity Classic - Birdies for Kids
In early 2022 the EEA applied to join this special
fundraising program, and we are proud to have
made the cut, along with about 200 charities in
Alberta.
Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink is a
non-profit program under the Calgary Shaw
Charity Classic Foundation. This program is
designed to help raise new funds for local charities,
engage the community in the tournament, and
provide matching funds for each charity involved.
You can donate online or by cheque between
March 1 and August 31
Donations can be made to the Shaw Charity
Classic Foundation matching pool or directly to
a participating charity
Donations directed to a participating charity
are matched up to 50% using the Foundation
matching pool
All administrative costs are covered by the
tournament, meaning 100% of all donations will
go directly to the charity selected.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE EEA?
Our application to this funding model focused our
efforts in building resources, opportunities and
new experiences for children living with epilepsy,
with a special attention to brand new website we
launched on March 26, 2022, we call:
www.epilepsyweb4kids.ca
Donations to the EEA through this fundraising
channel are matched up to 50%, and we have
raised, to date, over $41,000! We are combining
the focus of our "25 Days for Epilepsy" campaign
with the Shaw Charity Classic. So we hope you plan
to join this campaign between June 1 and June 25
to help us stretch donations to much higher
numbers!
| 12 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 20222
days for epilepsy
5
WALK/RUN/RIDE/MOVE
FOR EPILEPSY!
Join the EEA during the month of June to create awareness about
epilepsy and physical and mental wellbeing. Become a Fundraising
Champion and/or Donate to our cause.
Join our Backyard Summer Celebration, on June 25, 2022!
| 13 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 20222
5 days for epilepsy
WHY | WHAT | HOW
We want to promote Between June 1 and Between June 1 and
awareness and 25, 2022 (25 days!) we 25, 2022 (we will raise
understanding about will focus on the funds for our
epilepsy in the month connection between campaign (see the
of June physical and mental Donate page).
June 4, 1960 is EEA wellbeing and We will increase
birthday. We turn 62! epilepsy. information about
We want to focus on We will post and research and personal
the connection update daily, on our experiences with
between physical and social media, small active physical and
mental wellbeing and chunks of information mental wellbeing and
epilepsy and invite about this connection epilepsy.
everyone to be more and invite you all to We celebrate together
active! daily challenges! in person for the first
We invite people to time in two years!
become Fundraiser
Champions and set
personal movement
goals and raise funds
in the process.
We celebrate together
as a community on
June 25, 2022 at the
EEA office.
| 14 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022become a fundraiser
champion
Until May 27, 2022 we are inviting members
and supporters who wish to do so, to become
our Fundraiser Champions.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME A
FUNDRAISER CHAMPION?
You set a personal physical goal for the month of
June, such as riding a bike for 100K, or walking
50K every week, or doing at least 10,000 steps per
day! The physical goal is your choice!
You seek people in your network, such as family
members and friends to pledge to donate to our
campaign.
You register with the EEA and we add your name
to the list of Champions and your pledgers can go
to our link and add their pledges there directly.
You agree to be part of the Challenge
Leaderboard, where we update pledges from all
champions.
As a champion, as long as you raise a minimum of
$35 you will have access to a free EEA purple shirt.
2 REGISTER
5 days for epilepsy
| 15
HERE
FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022donate
There are two ways to donate to our campaign:
DONATE THROUGH THE FUNDRAISING CHAMPIONS (access the pledges page online or
connect to the champions offline)
DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE SHAW CHARITY CLASSIC - BIRDIES FOR KIDS link on our
website at this link - or offline - between June 1 and June 25, 2022.
All donations during this time period (June 1 through 25, 2022) through the Shaw Charity
Classic - Birdies for Kids, will be matched up to 50% (more funds for us) and used for our Kids
website project and other youth-related initiatives in the next 18 months, which we will
update you about in future newsletter issues.
2 days for
5 epilepsy
| 16 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022receive a purple shirt
2 days for
5
Since 1952, Elite Promotional Marketing has been one of Western Canada’s
leading corporate branding, sportswear, recognition and merchandise
epilepsy program providers. With almost 65,000 sq. ft. of showroom, warehousing and
production departments, and two locations in Edmonton and Calgary, Elite
provides every client, organization, or team with a customized branding
solution to meet their requirements. As an award-winning leader in the
promotional products industry, we are committed to driving measurable
results through top quality, quick and reliable service every step of the way.
Visit us at www.elitepromotionalmarketing.com to learn more!
The "25 Days for Epilepsy" is at its core a fundraising campaign! And a special one at that! The first
350 donations we receive, through the Shaw Charity Classic- Birdies for Kids, of at least $40, will
receive access to select a free purple shirt, with the EEA logo., in male and female designs. You
want to donate as early as possible as shirt sizes are limited. The shirts were partly sponsored by
Elite Promotional Marketing.
How do you get a shirt?
You can make a pledge through one of our champions (help them raise funds) at this link.
Or you can directly Donate online through this link - or send a cheque or cash through the
PDF form on our website. You must donate a minimum of $40 to access these shirts.
Once you donate, and we receive your details from the Charity Classic, we will send you a link
or personally call you to order your shirt in the size of your choice.
Donate early as size choices are limited.
| 17 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022learn and share
2
5 days for epilepsy
SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Did you know we are on social media? Why is this important?
We use these communication channels to keep in touch on a daily basis, and
quickly share news about our programs, but also what we know to be important if
you live or are impacted by epilepsy. During these 25 days in June for our special
campaign, we will post daily tips, challenges and information about physical
activity and mental wellbeing and epilepsy. You can click on each one of the icons
below and start following us on each channel. There is great strength in numbers!
| 18 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022join the party
2
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022
EEA OFFICE, 11215 GROAT ROAD,
EDMONTON, ALBERTA
5 days for epilepsy
| 19 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022join the party
On Saturday, June 25, 2022, we invite everyone to
join us for an in-person live celebration, party, get
together and just an excuse to be with other
humans, at the EEA office backyard! To register and
attend this special first live event from our
association read the details below!
LOCATION - 11215 GROAT ROAD, EDMONTON ALBERTA
TIME: you can purchase your tickets for either of these
time slots (for one or both)
10:00 to 1:00 p.m.
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
TICKETS PRICE:
$5.00 PER TIME SLOT FOR MEMBERS
$10.00 PER TIME SLOT FOR NON-MEMBERS
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS AT THIS LINK TODAY
OR CALL OUR OFFICE TO ARRANGE FOR OFFLINE
PAYMENT.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THAT DAY?
Everyone in attendance will have a chance to connect with
our member community, will be fed with an Italian store
panini, soft drinks, tea or coffee, sweets and a goodie bag!
We will have rock painting for the younger ones, a Heritage
Walk group and a short formal program, led by our
President, Tammy Tkachuk.
2
5
days
days for epilepsy
| 20 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
In this issue we love to share with
you yet another personal story with
epilepsy, from one of our long-
standing members: Jason D.
Jason offered to be interviewed by
the EEA and to share his story,
which includes living with epilepsy
since a young age. His seizures are
long well managed, and yet
epilepsy is an integral part of
Jason's life, while they have not
stopped him from achieving some
really great personal goals, and
from being an upbeat, positive
person.
Today Jason lives in an assisted
living environment with his mom,
and he is an integral part of his
community, waking up each day
with the intention of making a
difference. We are grateful for his
wish to share his story and for
being such an active member in
support of epilepsy awareness and
education.
In the next page you will read
excerpts of Jason's interview with
us. For the full audio recording visit
our page at
https://edmontonepilepsy.org/me
mberstories/, along with our
previous members' stories.
If you wish to share your own
experience with epilepsy, contact
us and we will arrange for an
interview. Your courage to tell your
story will inspire others.
Jason and Erica, recreation Coordinator at
Ashbourne Assisted Living.
| 21 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
EEA: Hi Jason, and Thank you for talking with is today. Can you tell us a bit about
yourself?
J.: Hi there, I live here in Ashbourne with my mom, and I really like it here. I play
cards, I do trivia, I do bingos on Saturday, and I like sports. I was in the Special
Olympics in 1986, in bowling. [...]
EEA: That is fantastic. Can you tell us a bit about your epilepsy?
J.: Oh yes. I control it very well. Some days my eyes blink, but otherwise I can stop it.
And if my hands go a different way, my friend, I can stop it too.
EEA: Do you take medication?
J.: Yes I do.
EEA: So for your epilepsy, it sounds like even though you have epilepsy, you still do
many, many, many things. Correct?
J.: Correct. I find ways to cope with it. Some days it is good and some days it's not!
EEA: So do you find it, for example, that if you stay positive and you think that you
can, then things happen?
J.: Yes, they do. [...] Well, some days I am tired. Other days I'm happy as a lark. Other
days it's okay. But other than that, I'm just a cheerful person. And like my mum
says, I get upstairs and sing down the hall after I'm done my program.
EEA: What message of hope do you have for folks out there, who live with epilepsy?
J.: Tell people about it. My brother knows about my epilepsy, and how to control
seizures.
Jason spoke with us from his heart,
and the audio recording of this
interview is available on the EEA
website (click on this image to go
there directly). We are always looking
for new stories, to document different
ways epilepsy is impacting people in
our community. Your testimony will
lift up others and show everyone life is
possible with seizures, even if
adjustments need to be made. And
that we are here to support one
another with compassion and
understanding.
| 22 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022EPILEPSY NEWS
PRECISE NEW FORM OF BRAIN SURGERY REQUIRES
NO INCISIONS, SCALPELS
University of Virginia School of There is a new procedure for epilepsy in development which
Medicine researchers have utilizes ultrasound waves and targeted microbubbles to deliver
neurotoxins to problematic brain cells. This is called PING and
developed a noninvasive way
has been shown to be effective in laboratory tests for the
to remove faulty brain circuits reduction or complete elimination of epilepsy. The benefit to
that could allow doctors to this approach is that it is non-invasive so it does not require
treat debilitating neurological surgery. PING is also very precise as it is coupled with MRI to
diseases without the need for target the ultrasound waves towards only the brain cells
conventional brain surgery. causing the epilepsy. This spares any nearby brain cells that are
healthy which can reduce the amount of side effects that can
The UVA team, together with
occur after larger procedures such as surgery which often
colleagues at Stanford damages healthy brain cells.
University, indicate that the
approach, if successfully
translated to the operating
room, could revolutionize the
This neurotoxin kills the culprit brain cells while sparing other
treatment of some of the most
healthy cells and preserving the surrounding brain
challenging and complex
architecture. "This novel surgical strategy has the potential to
neurological diseases,
supplant existing neurosurgical procedures used for the
including epilepsy, movement
treatment of neurological disorders that don't respond to
disorders and more. The
medication," said researcher Kevin S. Lee, PhD, of UVA's
approach uses low-intensity
Departments of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery and the
focused ultrasound waves
Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG). "This unique
combined with microbubbles
approach eliminates the diseased brain cells, spares adjacent
to briefly penetrate the brain's
healthy cells and achieves these outcomes without even
natural defenses and allow the
having to cut into the scalp."
targeted delivery of a
neurotoxin.
| 23 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022The Power of PING
The new approach is called PING, and it has already
demonstrated exciting potential in laboratory
studies. For instance, one of the promising
applications for PING could be for the surgical
treatment of epilepsies that do not respond to
medication. Approximately a third of patients with
epilepsy do not respond to anti-seizure drugs, and
surgery can reduce or eliminate seizures for some of
them. Lee and his team, along with their
collaborators at Stanford, have shown that PING can
reduce or eliminate seizures in two research models
of epilepsy. The findings raise the possibility of
treating epilepsy in a carefully-targeted and
noninvasive manner without the need for traditional
brain surgery.
Another important potential advantage of PING is that it could encourage the surgical
treatment of appropriate patients with epilepsy who are reluctant to undergo conventional
invasive or ablative surgery.
In a new scientific paper in the Journal of Neurosurgery, Lee and his collaborators detail the
ability of PING to focally eliminate neurons in a brain region, while sparing non-target cells in
the same area. In contrast, currently available surgical approaches damage all cells in a
treated brain region.
A key advantage of the approach is its incredible precision. PING harnesses the power of
magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) to let scientists peer inside the skull so that they can
precisely guide sound waves to open the body's natural blood-brain barrier exactly where
needed. This barrier is designed to keep harmful cells and molecules out of the brain, but it
also prevents the delivery of potentially beneficial treatments.
The UVA group's new paper concludes that PING allows the delivery of a highly targeted
neurotoxin, cleanly wiping out problematic neurons, a type of brain cell, without causing
collateral damage.
Another key advantage of the precision of this approach is that it can be used on irregularly
shaped targets in areas that would be extremely difficult or impossible to reach through
regular brain surgery. "If this strategy translates to the clinic," the researchers write in their
new paper, "the noninvasive nature and specificity of the procedure could positively
influence both physician referrals for and patient confidence in surgery for medically
intractable neurological disorders."
"Our hope is that the PING strategy will become a key element in the next generation of very
precise, noninvasive, neurosurgical approaches to treat major neurological disorders," said
Lee, who is part of the UVA Brain Institute.
Yi Wang et al. Noninvasive disconnection of targeted
neuronal circuitry sparing axons of passage and nonneuronal
cells. Journal of Neurosurgery, 2021 DOI:
10.3171/2021.7.JNS21123
| 24 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022EPILEPSY NEWS
WHOLE-BRAIN PRECLINICAL STUDY ILLUMINATES
HOW EPILEPTIC SEIZURES ORIGINATE
New evidence from a zebrafish There is currently much debate over the origin of epileptic
seizures and this is an important piece of information for
model of epilepsy may help
scientists to discover as identifying the origin could lead to
resolve a debate into how production of new drugs. This research looked into the two
seizures originate, according to types of brain cells that are thought to be involved with seizure
Weill Cornell Medicine and formation, the excitatory neurons which activate brain regions
NewYork-Presbyterian and the inhibitory neurons that shut off brain regions. There
investigators. The findings may has been evidence for both sides with some scientists claiming
that excitatory neurons are the cause while others say that
also be useful in the discovery
inhibitory neurons are the cause. This article demonstrates how
and development of future a new model using zebrafish was made that allowed scientists
epilepsy drugs. to track the activity of both these neurons during an epileptic
seizure which has revealed that excitatory neurons may be the
In the study, published Feb. 23 most important players. This can pave the way to discovering
in Brain, the researchers were the contributions of these two brain cell types and hopefully
demonstrate how seizures originate so we can create new
able to track the activities of
therapies.
neurons throughout the entire
brains of larval zebrafish
during seizures. They showed
"What's really nice about the zebrafish model is that we can
that the seizures originated
image every brain region, and in this model, for the first time,
from an excess of "excitatory"
we were able to distinguish and track the activity of both
over "inhibitory" brain cell
excitatory and inhibitory neurons," said first author Dr. James
activity in relatively confined
Niemeyer, a postdoctoral associate in neurological surgery at
regions of the brain and spread
Weill Cornell Medicine. "So, this is a good starting point for
only when they overcame
examining the nuanced roles of these cell types during
strong inhibitory activity in
seizures."
surrounding regions.
Dr. Niemeyer is a member of the laboratory of co-senior
author Dr. Theodore Schwartz, who is the David and Ursel
Neurons in the brain come in
Barnes Professor of Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery and vice
two broad categories:
chair for clinical research at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine
excitatory neurons whose
Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and a neurosurgeon at
activity stimulates the activity
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The
of other neurons, and
other co-senior authors of the study are Dr. Hongtao Ma,
inhibitory neurons whose
associate professor of neuroscience research in neurological
activity quiets other neurons.
surgery, and Dr. Emre Aksay, associate professor of physiology
Some recent studies have
and biophysics, both at Weill Cornell Medicine.
indicated that surges in the
activity of inhibitory neurons
can paradoxically trigger
seizures. The new findings
suggest otherwise.
| 25 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022Epilepsy is common, afflicting roughly fifty million people around the world at any one time. But
how it originates has never been entirely clear. On the one hand, there is evidence that seizures
arise from zones in the brain that favor excitatory neuron activity over the usual restraining
influence of inhibitory neurons. On the other hand, several recent studies have suggested that
excessive activity in inhibitory neurons may trigger seizures -- some researchers have observed
earlier seizure activity in these cells. This has left a gap in understanding of the different roles of
excitation and inhibition in seizures.
"The issue has been hard to resolve, due to the challenges involved in distinguishing and tracking
excitatory and inhibitory neuron activity across multiple brain regions in an awake animal," said
Dr. Schwartz, who is also a professor of neurological surgery and of neuroscience at Weill Cornell
Medicine.
With the zebrafish, the researchers were able to surmount those challenges. Using special
fluorescent probes, electrical recordings and a technique called two-photon microscopy, they
simultaneously distinguished and tracked excitatory and inhibitory neurons' activity across the
brain, before and during seizures induced by a standard chemical method.
They observed that seizures in this model tend to originate in the midbrain, at sites with a heavy
imbalance of excitatory over inhibitory neuronal activity. Surrounding zones were much more
weighted towards inhibitory activity, and evidently for this reason were able to resist, at least
briefly, the spread of seizure activity from the initiating zone.
Prior studies that pointed to inhibitory neurons as seizure triggers may in some cases have
detected only these highly inhibitory propagation zones rather than the initiating zone, the
researchers suggested.
"We did find overactive inhibitory neurons in the propagation zones, but the advantage of our
approach is that we can image across all brain regions to determine where the seizure originates,"
said Dr. Aksay, who is also associate professor of computational neuroscience in computational
biomedicine in the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Institute for
Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
The team plan to use their zebrafish model for epilepsy drug screening and hope to confirm their
findings in future experiments looking across multiple brain regions in a mouse model.
The research was funded in part by a Weill Cornell Medicine seed grant for multidisciplinary
research involving clinical and basic science departments.
1. James E. Niemeyer, Poornima Gadamsetty, Chanwoo
Chun, Sherika Sylvester, Jacob P. Lucas, Hongtao Ma,
Theodore H. Schwartz, Emre R. F. Aksay. Seizures initiate in
zones of relative hyperexcitation in a zebrafish epilepsy
model. Brain, 2022; DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac073
| 26 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022EPILEPSY NEWS
VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION LOWERS
COSTS OF CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH
UNCONTROLLED EPILEPSY
Vagus nerve stimulation is known as the pacemaker for the brain and is often used as a way to
prevent seizures by sending mild electrical impulses to the brain. Research has shown that children
who have both the vagus nerve stimulation device and take medication are able to reduce the number
of times they are sent to the hospital. Though not as applicable in Canada, this can aid in lowering the
cost of care required. With reduced need to visit the hospital, this device along with medication is also
capable of increasing the quality of life of patients with epilepsy.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), The study found that the patients treated with ASM plus VNS
sometimes referred to as a had savings of over $3,000 of epilepsy-related annual costs
"pacemaker for the brain," per year, compared to treatment with ASM only. These
involves a stimulator device findings mirror the team's previous report of children with
that is implanted under the drug-resistant epilepsy having significantly decreased
skin in the chest, with a wire inpatient healthcare utilization following VNS plus ASM
that is wound around the compared to those treated with ASM alone. The study on
vagus nerve in the neck. It healthcare utilization was published in Epilepsy & Behavior.
helps prevent seizures by "We take a health services research perspective on the
sending regular, mild electrical patients' journey with a challenging disease process of drug-
pulses to the brain. Typically, resistant epilepsy that has not been met with a cure. For
the patient is not aware the patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, reducing seizure
device is operating. burden and addressing quality of life are important goals. We
A new study from Ann & quantify aspects of outcomes of surgical therapies and
Robert H. Lurie Children's medical therapies, and we assess the impact on health care
Hospital of Chicago published costs and utilization. To the patients, families, health care
in the journal systems, health care advocates, and policymakers, these are
Epilepsiaexamined a important results," said senior author Sandi Lam, MD, MBA,
population of pediatric Division Head of Neurosurgery at Lurie Children's and
patients with drug-resistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University
epilepsy. For these patients, Feinberg School of Medicine. "While we show lower costs to
the study found that the the health care system following VNS surgery, from a
patients who received VNS, practical standpoint it means fewer hospital admissions
when used with anti-seizure because of seizures. Patients spend their days at home
medications (ASM), had lower instead of in the hospital."
hospital costs compared to the
use of ASM alone.
| 27 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022The study is unique in multiple
ways. There has been no
previous research focusing on
children with drug-resistant
epilepsy and comparing the
outcomes of those who had
VNS and ASMs and those who
only received ASMs. The study
also provides a breakdown of
VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION LOWERS costs by site of care (inpatient,
COSTS OF CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH outpatient, and Emergency
UNCONTROLLED EPILEPSY Department).
The study researchers found that emergency department costs decreased more for children
treated with VNS and ASM, compared to ASM alone. While average annual total costs were
higher in the ASM-only cohort, the researchers also observed that outpatient care costs for
VNS with ASM were higher than ASM alone. The study authors note that it is not surprising
that children required more outpatient care shortly after VNS implantation, since device
adjustment for each patient is necessary in this time period. Outpatient costs for children with
VNS decreased dramatically in the second year. Future studies warrant additional focus on
costs and patterns of care in longer term follow-up.
Research with national data do not substitute for clinical research. Each patient with epilepsy
presents a unique case requiring tailored clinical care that should be managed at a
comprehensive Level 4 NAEC pediatric epilepsy center like Lurie Children's. Large studies with
health services research can inform future research as well as gaps and opportunities in health
care delivery. The study shows that surgical options should be a part of the epilepsy treatment
armamentarium. While future studies will look at cranial epilepsy surgery outcomes, this study
was limited to VNS and did not include epilepsy surgery on the brain, which is an important
way of epilepsy treatment.
The study included children (0-17 years of age) who were diagnosed with refractory epilepsy,
with 1113 patients treated with ASM plus VNS and 3471 patients treated with ASM only. Data
were sourced from the Children's Hospital Association's Pediatric Health Information System
(PHIS) database, which contains inpatient, emergency department, ambulatory, and
observation encounter level data from more than 44 children's hospitals in the United States.
Patients in the study were followed one year prior and two years after meeting pre-
determined criteria for refractory epilepsy.
Research at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago is conducted through the
Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute. The Manne Research Institute is focused on
improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures
through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children's is ranked as one of the nation's
top children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. It is the pediatric training ground for
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
| 28 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022EPILEPSY NEWS 19
A brain mechanism needed for learning explains why epileptic
seizures become more frequent, but a finding in rodents offers
hope for treatment, according to a new study.
Epileptic seizures worsen via the same mechanism by which
practice makes perfect, a new study from the Stanford
University School of Medicine has found.
The research, conducted on rodents with epilepsy, provides a
major new insight into the mechanics of how seizures
worsen: Seizures drive better insulation of the nerve fibers
involved in seizing, allowing the brain to have seizures more
efficiently. The findings explain why seizures generally
become more frequent and severe in epilepsy patients who
don’t take medication or whose epilepsy doesn’t respond to
medication.
The study was published May 2 in Nature Neuroscience.
The research findings represent the first known example of a
BRAIN PLASTICITY type of brain plasticity, called activity-dependent
PROMOTES myelination, contributing to a disease. The study also
WORSENING OF suggests new drug targets to interrupt the process and
EPILEPTIC SEIZURES, prevent seizures from escalating.
STUDY FINDS “I was surprised by what we saw. Initially, I thought that
because this is a disease process, we would see deficient
myelination somehow,” said the study’s lead author, Juliet
Knowles, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and
neurological sciences and of pediatrics. “What we’re seeing is
myelination in a pattern that favors seizure progression.”
The study’s senior authors are Michelle Monje, MD, PhD,
professor of neurology and neurological sciences, and John
Huguenard, PhD, professor of neurology and neurological
sciences.
The learning process
Myelin is the fatty substance that insulates nerves. In
adaptive myelination, which Monje’s group discovered, the
brain increases the number of myelinated fibers and the
thickness of the coating around the nerve fibers that fire
more often. This insulation helps cement things we learn in
the physical structure of our brains.
Myelin plasticity contributes to many brain functions,
including attention, learning and memory. Normally, when
someone practices a new skill, such as riding a bike or
playing the piano, nerve firing triggers adaptive myelination.
The busiest nerves become coated in thicker layers of
insulating myelin, improving the speed and synchronization
of nerve networks used in the skill and making the person a
better cyclist or more accomplished musician.
| 29 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022BRAIN PLASTICITY PROMOTES
WORSENING OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES,
STUDY FINDS
But the research shows, for the first time, that
myelination can also make the nerves more
efficient at unwanted actions. In a seizure,
neurons fire with abnormal synchrony. Depending
on the seizure type, the neural circuits involved
may be localized to a small brain region, or they
may extend across a large swath of the brain —
but it’s the same circuits every time.
Just as plenty of piano practice can cause a thick layer of myelination to increase the
efficiency of the specific circuits needed to play a Beethoven sonata, lots of seizures can
increase the myelination of — and therefore the efficiency of — the circuits that seize. This
makes it easier for the brain to have seizures, similar to the way it’s easier to play Beethoven
on the 50th run-through than on the fifth.
“We think the onset of seizures begins with neuronal mechanisms, but the rearrangements
in myelin really compound pathological changes in brain networks,” Knowles said. The
process appears to be one reason epilepsy patients who aren’t taking medication or don’t
respond to medication may experience more frequent and/or more intense seizures as the
disease progresses.
“This is the first demonstration of maladaptive myelination in a disease context, and I think
this is the tip of the iceberg,” Knowles said. “We have to explore how it plays out in different
types of epilepsy and maybe in other neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases.”
Focus on ‘absence seizures’. In some seizures, the abnormal neuronal activity causes
convulsions; in others, people lose muscle tone, causing them to collapse.
The researchers focused on a common type called absence seizures, in which all behavior
stops, usually for less than a minute. People having such seizures look like they are staring or
daydreaming. They also experience brief loss of consciousness; afterward, they don’t know
what happened. These seizures, though less dramatic than those that cause convulsions or
collapse, still interfere with the lives of epileptic patients and can be dangerous if, for
instance, someone has an absence seizure while crossing a street.
Children and adults with certain types of epilepsy can experience hundreds of absence
seizures daily. Although medication can treat it, about 30% of patients with childhood
absence epilepsy still have seizures even though they’re taking medication.
“For most forms of epilepsy, we don’t have disease-modifying treatment,” Knowles said. “We
can give medications that temporarily stop seizures, but this does not address what’s
happening structurally in the brain.”
To understand how seizures change the brain, the researchers studied rodents with absence
seizures. As in some types of human epilepsy involving absence seizures, the animals
develop seizures in early life that gradually ramp up over time.
| 30 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022BRAIN PLASTICITY PROMOTES WORSENING OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES,
STUDY FINDS
In the brains of rats with absence epilepsy, the researchers looked at changes to myelin-
forming cells called oligodendrocytes. Compared with the time before seizures began, by
the end of the period of seizure onset — 4.5 months later — the animals had more and a
greater density of new or dividing oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and more mature
oligodendrocytes.
This finding corresponded with the presence of thicker myelin coating on the nerve fibers —
and more nerve fibers with myelin — in the brain region where seizures occur. However,
there was no change in myelination in brain regions where seizures are uncommon. In
addition, control animals without seizures did not show these changes.
To find out if interrupting the seizure-induced myelination could block the development of
seizures, the researchers genetically engineered mice to further their understanding of
absence epilepsy. The scientists changed an important receptor in mice oligodendrocyte
precursor cells that is needed for adaptive myelination. Because of the genetic engineering,
the researchers could selectively delete the receptor, TrkB, from the oligodendrocyte
precursor cells in these mice beginning when the seizures were expected to start. When
TrkB was deleted, the mice still had some seizures, but the number of seizures was lower,
and they did not become more frequent.
The researchers also used a drug that blocks aspects of the maturation of oligodendrocyte
precursor cells, administering the drug starting one week after the mice began having
seizures. The findings were similar to those in genetically engineered mice: Seizures still
occurred, but they did not become worse or more frequent.
The class of drugs used in the study, HDAC inhibitors, includes some FDA-approved
medications. The scientists hope to study whether such drugs could improve outcomes,
particularly in children newly diagnosed with severe forms of epilepsy.
“There’s a lot more that needs to be done to explore the molecular mechanisms that link
pathological patterns of neuronal activity to maladaptive myelination and explore the
potential of HDAC inhibition for severe and refractory epilepsy,” Knowles said.
The study’s other Stanford authors are life science researchers Haojun Xu, Ankita Batra, Lijun
Ni and Sydney Talmi; undergraduate student Tristan Saucedo; medical student Lydia Tam;
and former research assistants Caroline Soane, Eleanor Frost, Danielle Fraga and Katlin Villar.
The authors include members of Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Maternal and Child Health
Research Institute, the Stanford Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, the Stanford Institute for
Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and the Stanford Cancer Institute.
The research was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (grants
R01NS092597, K12NS098482, K08NS119800, R01NS034774 and R01NS117150), an NIH director’s pioneer
award (grant DP1NS111132), the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, the Stanford Maternal and
Child Health Research Institute, Stanford Bio-X, Cancer Research UK, the American Epilepsy Society,
the CURE Epilepsy Foundation, and the Child Neurology Foundation.
Monje is on the scientific advisory board of Cygnal Therapeutics. The authors have no other
competing interests.
| 31 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022EEA UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
As promised we list below the upcoming activities and programs, along with our ongoing offerings,
categorized by membership groups and general audiences, divided by adult focus and youth and families
focus. In the pages that follow we offer short descriptions of each offering and how you can join our services.
When in doubt always contact our office!
COMMON PROGRAMS (REACH OUT TO BOTH AGE GROUPS)
NEWSLETTER
WEBSITE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
EEA INFORMATION BOOKLETS REGULAR EMAIL UPDATES ON
VIDEO RESOURCES UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES, MEDICAL
SOCIAL EVENTS (JUNE AND DECEMBER 2022) NEWS AND EVENTS
SOCIAL MEDIA DAILY POSTS QUILT DONATION PROGRAM
ADULT FOCUS YOUTH AND FAMILIES' FOCUS
SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
HOBSCOTCH - memory coaching program, one-on- FAMILIES ONLINE CONVERSATIONS (FOCS) - online
one, 8 weeks monthly meetings with families living with children
TABLET LENDING PROGRAM - free access up to two diagnosed with epilepsy
years, to digital tablet, along with individualized YOUTH FLOWER GARDEN - during the summer we
training offer youth the chance to come and plant some
EPILEPSY EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS - monthly flowers in the EEA backyard, and tend to them.
webinars on a variety of topics - mainly aimed at KIDS ON THE BLOCK - our puppet show, offered
adult audiences online and in person to teach younger kids about
COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT - in person access epilepsy.
to seeds, dirt and a garden plot at EEA office for KIDS UPFRONT - we connect with this agency to
members offer access to events and experiences for member
UPLIFT GROUP FOCUS PROGRAM - EEA adult families with children under the age of 18.
members can register for this 8-week sessions KIDS WEBSITE - on March 26, 2022, we launched the
program offered online by the Epilepsy Association www.epilepsyweb4kids.ca website, along with
of Calgary raising funds for a number of initiatives under this
INDIVIDUAL PHONE AND IN PERSON sessions for specific project, which focuses on explaining
unique support. Call us any time and we will find epilepsy to kids, in kids terms and language. WE will
answers for your epilepsy-related questions, start building original resources under this project,
including connecting you with agencies which engaging with kids and youth, empowering them to
specialize in unique offerings. tell their story in their own words.
MENTORING - we train willing members to become GARRY HANNIGAN AND BRITTANY HUGHES
mentors and connect them with other members in MEMORIAL LIFE ENHANCEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS -
need, for one-on-one sessions, talking about epilepsy dedicated to youth in support of their sports, arts
impact on someone's life. and creativity dreams!
BETTER CHOICES-BETTER HEALTH (New) - starting
mid-September 2022, we will be offering this chronic
pain online group program, to learn about ways of Find our more about some of these
coping with chronic disease and self-manage one's
daily life challenges.
programs in the following pages. For any
EPILEPSY 101 - ON DEMAND WEBINARS AND IN- inquiries about any of these programs and
PERSON SESSIONS - to teach about epilepsy! services, contact us via email at
Offered free of charge to communities, centres and
employers.
info@edmontonepilepsy.org or call our
EPILEPSY TRUST SCHOLARSHIP - for young adults office at 780-488-9600. We would love to
enrolled in post-secondary programs. tell you more!
EEA AWARDS - special recognition programs for
volunteers and members.
| 32 FOCUS ON EPILEPSY NEWSLETTER MAY | JUNE 2022You can also read
