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Author: Mary Claire Hass

Husband, wife, son, daughter sitting on couch smiling

Olivia Devaraj – A Voice for the Epilepsy Community

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Olivia Devaraj’s path to advocating for the epilepsy community started before she attended the 2019 Epilepsy Advocacy Day at the Capitol. It even started before she officially reached out to the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (EFMN). As a 7th grader, Olivia heard about an art therapy program that helped people

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electrical surges from inside a human brain

Acute Repetitive Seizures (ARS) or Cluster Seizures

- Clinician's Corner

Cluster seizures are more likely to occur in patients who have more difficulty in controlling seizures, or refractory epilepsy, which is defined as having failed more than 2 seizure medications. Cluster seizures occur more often in patients with focal epilepsy but can occur in generalized epilepsy as well.

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9 year old boy outside holding Jason Gray music CD

Cody Semrow – Battling Epilepsy By Helping Others

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Cody Semrow is only nine years old, but his journey with epilepsy includes a misread MRI, multiple medication changes, unpredictable side effects, and, of course, seizures. However, it also includes a special friendship between Cody and his favorite musician, Jason Gray. This past summer the Semrow family organized a benefit

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Epilepsy In Seniors

- Research & Innovation

Epilepsy can be diagnosed at any point in someone’s life. There are currently more than 300,00 seniors with epilepsy in the US, and they’ve been identified as the population with the most rapid growth of epilepsy diagnoses. The most common provocations in seniors with epilepsy are stroke, degenerative disorders such

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative

- Organization Updates

In the fall of 2017, Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (EFMN) staff and board of directors gathered in a conference room at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. Together, they put the finishing touches on a comprehensive 2018-2020 strategic plan which included a foundational pillar of connecting with more communities. Two years

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Mom holding hands with 10 year old daughter at theme park

Ary Rodeghiero – Finding Support, Friends, and Fun

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Ary Rodeghiero hasn’t had a seizure since 2010 thanks to her medication. However, the medication has its side effects, which has caused her to undergo recent EEG testing to determine the best plan going forward. Although seizures don’t affect Ary’s everyday life, epilepsy does. “We got connected to EFMN by

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Laura Roloff – The Power of Seizure First Aid

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Laura Roloff was diagnosed with epilepsy just one year ago. After meeting with doctors and learning how her life was about to change, she wasn’t sure how to tell her kids. Before she got that chance, Laura had a seizure at home, and her 11-year-old son Keyan was the only

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Seizure Safety During Summer

- Clinician's Corner

Seizure Safety During Summer By: Joan Asmus, BSN, LSN, NBSCN – Professional Advisory Board Member It’s summertime! Many of us are expanding our activities to include fresh air and summer-specific activities. For many people, the scariest aspect of epilepsy is not knowing when or where a seizure will occur, and

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Two adult women smiling Rise Above Seizures Walk

Meet Danielle Ehresmann

- Thriving with Epilepsy

Danielle’s Story Danielle Ehresmann started having seizures at two years old but wasn’t officially diagnosed with epilepsy until she was five. Her two sisters were also diagnosed at five, meaning the three of them, all triplets, had the same three types of seizures. As she grew older her sisters’ seizures

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