Paul Schmidt was a young man who grew up in Prospect Heights and died of epilepsy in October of 2008, just shy of his 22nd birthday. Check out and upcoming Run for Epilepsy celebrating his life, as well as raising much-needed awareness and funding for this life-altering and life-threatening condition that affects others. For proceeds to benefit CURE: Citizens United for Research in Epileps, 95 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to research and awareness programs.
Paul’s Run for Epilepsy
Sunday, October 17, 2010Start
9:00 a.m.Event
5K Run/Walk
Free “Run Like Paul” Kids’ Races
paulsrunforepilepsy.orgEpilepsy and Health & Wellness Fair
Location
Gary Morava Recreation Center
110 W. Camp McDonald Rd. Prospect Heights, IL 60070
In 2001, at the age of 15, Paul Schmidt experienced his first seizure. After extensive testing, it was determined that he was born with a seizure disorder called juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. For the next six years of his life, Paul faced a grueling uphill battle. He saw many experts in the field within the greater Chicagoland area, and tried many medications (and lots of combination of medications) for epilepsy. In December 2007 Paul underwent a promising surgical treatment: he had the Vagus Nerve Stimulator implanted. Yet, as is the case for over 30% of people with epilepsy, Paul’s seizures remained uncontrollable.
On Friday, October 17th, 2008, twelve days short of his twenty-second
birthday, Paul’s body went into cardiac arrest and his breathing stopped. Two days later he joined the 50,000 Americans who die each year of epilepsy. The cause of Paul’s death was something called SUDEP: sudden unexplained death in epilepsy.
Thanks so much for including this article! Epilepsy affects so many people, it would be wonderful to see a piece shedding even more light on what the condition is and how it affects people.