Stacey Chillemi is 32 years old, a mother of three, a wife and writer. Her journey and reason for being is defined each day by the happiness in her children’s eyes and the people with epilepsy she has helped through her writing.
By Jenna Martin, Senior Editor
www.epilepsy.com

Living life with epilepsy can be a colossal struggle. But, if you are Stacey Chillemi, it is a challenge and an opportunity to help others.

Stacey Chillemi is 32 years old, a mother of three, a wife and writer. Her journey and reason for being is defined each day by the happiness in her children’s eyes and the people with epilepsy she has helped through her writing. “Through this experience with epilepsy I have learned to accept my limitations and to change the way I look at things. Through my writing I am able to help others and just knowing I’ve helped is enough of a reward,” said Chillemi.

How it Began

At five years of age, Chillemi contracted encephalitis from what doctors’ surmise began as an ear infection. For four days she lay in a coma and doctors were unsure of whether she would suffer from paralysis as well as the extent of the brain damage. Fortunately, she recovered from her bout with encephalitis with no paralysis. However, she was left with epilepsy. Since her diagnosis, 27 years ago, Chillemi has had seizures ranging in severity from mild seizures in her sleep to tonic-clonic seizures.



Living with Limitations

As a mother of three and a woman with epilepsy, Chillemi is realistic about her limitations, “Having epilepsy and being a mom is difficult at times because I worry that if I have a seizure and I am unable to recover fast enough, that my kids will suffer,” said Chillemi. In fact, the entire time Chillemi has been a mother she has had only one tonic-clonic seizure resulting in serious injury. According to Chillemi, she was walking the dog with her children when she felt a seizure coming on. She immediately instructed the children to go inside and wait downstairs for her. Following the seizure, Chillemi realized she had suffered a head injury and reached out to a neighbor for help. After the tonic-clonic seizure Chillemi decided to write a children’s book, called “My Mommy Has Epilepsy”. Her goal was to help children understand epilepsy in an age appropriate way as well as to help dispel some of the fear she had witnessed her own children experience. “I don’t want my children to get nervous or to worry about my seizures and the tonic- clonic seizure really motivated me to write a children’s book to help them and other kids cope and understand epilepsy.”

She admits she is also limited by not being able to drive, but attributes her ability to ask for help when she needs it as one more lesson learned. “At first it was difficult to rely on other people to drive the children and me places. I felt bad asking family and friends. But, now I’ve accepted my limitations and accepted who I am.”

Wisdom for Women

Chillemi cautions women with epilepsy to monitor their stress level. “Don’t try to accomplish too much. Do as much as you can and remember to set realistic goals and to reward yourself each day.” She also believes that in order to live with epilepsy and maintain a positive attitude it is important to focus on one’s self. “ Don’t look at what other people can do, only focus on yourself and your abilities because if you constantly compare, then you are adding to your stress level, which leads to being more physically drained and ultimately leaves you open to experience more seizures.” She advises women with epilepsy to educate themselves about their epilepsy and believes knowledge helps alleviate stress as well, “Women need to consult with their doctor, but not rely on their doctor for all of their information. In order to really feel empowered it is essential to take the initiative to learn all you can about epilepsy.”

Epilepsy Affects Millions of People Worldwide, With More Than Two Million People in the United States Suffering from the Disorder.

Live, Learn and Be Happy with Epilepsy, is targeted for individuals who have epilepsy. Unlike other books on epilepsy, it will focus on the facts of the connection between the mind, body, and spirit as it relates to epilepsy, showing readers how to use that connection to cope with epilepsy.

Individuals of all ages suffer from epilepsy and seizures. People with epilepsy are not the only ones who suffer, family and friends suffer. How would you feel if you walked into the house to find the one you loved or felt close to on the floor with their eyes rolled back and their body shaking uncontrollably? It is something you do not want to experience.

These individuals are yearning to learn more about the disorder that is disrupting their life and they are unable to do it because most existing books on the market approach the subject from the physician’s point of view. There is little emphasis made on showing people with epilepsy that you can make changes in your life to live positively with epilepsy.

The following chapters will deal with the mind, body, and spirit connection. The book includes chapters on the role of motivation, self-esteem, and faith. In order to help readers reduce stress and learn how to incorporate epilepsy in their life so they can live with the disorder feeling good about them. This book shows how to create a “personal journal” that combines use of positive imagery, relaxation, meditation, and exercise.

The book will include my own personal experience growing up with epilepsy and how I overcame the disorder. The end of the book will include a section discussing how to keep you in good health emotionally, physically and spiritually. The book helps readers learn that to keep their seizures under control, they cannot just take medicine. They need to keep themselves healthy by eating right, exercising, and sleeping properly. This chapter will introduce readers to techniques and exercises that will help you put the advice of the chapter into immediate practice. The last chapter of the book will include what medical technology has in store for people with epilepsy, discussing new medicines, treatments, and surgical procedures. In addition, the book will include a glossary to help understand medical terms in the book that may be unfamiliar to the reader. Through example and encouragement will offer readers a Live, Learn and Be Happy with Epilepsy, variety of strategies for coping with epilepsy. will present reader Live, Learn and Be Happy with Epilepsy, with a workable program for coping with their disorder and forming a healthy relationship with their mind, body and spirit enabling readers to overcome their disorder and get on with their lives.