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Preview: Fighting for a Cure

October 23, 2009 3:28 PM

More Americans are suffering from epilepsy than Parkinson's, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis combined. Katie Couric reports on a disease that may not be getting the attention it deserves. Sunday, June 27, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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by sarcastical June 27, 2010 10:39 PM EDT
I thought 60 Minutes, via assignment to Katie Couric, was gonna do the report more towards the angle of my perceptions.
I be disppointed.
I did expect the coverage about the U.S. Military /post-depression.
Had it not been for the ongoing war & this growing p-d making epilepsy more known.
"60 Minutes" highly likely not have done the "2nd" report. As I don't remember of the 1st.
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by sarcastical June 27, 2010 9:52 PM EDT
I've been a police brutality victim, via Epilepsy being an "invisible disability." From a rookie cop, who now be a leutenant.
This disability being the most highly bi***ted, of all others. As this being an "invisible disability" -- as I advocate it, to others.
Those in open society interpret me --- via the side effects of the meds that I take:
the speed of speech, any rate of slurred speech; stuttering, baggy eyes --- as "A DRUGGIE." As I been called that; and I know that others have been.
Cops even have classified me as such, without looking first asking to look if I had a Medic-Alert bracelet.
Civilians, here in soCalifornia: when I have a seizure on my bike, those motorists will just drive by, perceiving what I have described above.
If I be lucky, one will stand by, until I awaken.
If I be lucky about the meds --- the meds with me will give me the option of want/not want transport. As that be the patient's choice.
As my most recent trip was an authoritarian situation. As I was not injured nor disoriented enough.
Worst of all of Epilepsy:
Epilepsy Society; and Epilepsy Foundation of America --- they WON'T advocate to fight for assistance for Epilpetic People.
As they (each) don't classify themselves as an advocacy agency.
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by sasieass07 June 27, 2010 9:50 PM EDT
Thank you all so much for airing this show! Everything about Epilepsy needs to get out there as much as possible. People need to learn about it, people with it, need to know they are not the only one and learn how to deal with it. People in general need to know that us with Epilepsy are normal people, there is nothing wrong with us. It is time Epilepsy is heard about!!! I have Epilepsy, but Epilepsy does not have me!
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by okmom23 June 27, 2010 8:25 PM EDT
Thank you for doing a show on epilepsy. I have to applaud The Axelrod's for their determination. But what about the people that do not have access to the connections to obtain decent care for their children with epilepsy? I am a single Mom, my daughter has epilepsy. I do not have the resources to go to an Epilepsy Center to get help.
Last night, my daughter had a seizure in her sleep and bit her tongue.
Today she took a 4 hour nap....When I call her neuro. tomorrow, I already know how that call will be treated. If I had connections or resources, I could get help for my daughter. I wonder how many other Mom's cannot get help for their children? Suggestions? Please tell us who to call. I wish my daughter had access to the same medical care Lauren received..
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by 5dl June 27, 2010 8:06 PM EDT
What a great story Katie. I was diagnosed 4 years ago at the age of 46. The medication I am currently on has finally allowed me to feel some what normal again. But there are still side effects. I believe I lost my job because I was seen as a liability. Let's hope this story opens up door of possibilities for this disease.
Thank you.
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by cmitch10 June 27, 2010 8:06 PM EDT
My son was about 8-9 months old when he had his first seizure and had them until the age of 5 years old. When could never where this came from, what caused it, was it hereditary and the biggest question could it be cured? We'll with no insurance at the time we didn't get the help we needed. He was given a different med about every two-weeks. It was a waste of money. I had to wing him off the meds and it was truely a fight. He had to learn how to walk and talk again, I had to fight for him in the public school system for 12 years, taking a chance on going to jail because ppl wanted to "judge a book by its cover". He didn't talk to anyone, that was a problem. He didn't socialize, that was a problem. He could learn, but he couldn't retain. He would fight me, bite me and cry because he had such a hard time trying to let you know what he wanted. I worked really hard to get him "normal". He is now 20 years old and is suffers form depression and still needs help with just about everything he does because he doubts his self such much. He did attend college last year and I made him stay in school. It was hard but,he did it.

I think it has something to do with stress, depression and the body giving up. I still need help with dealing with him but, we have no insurance once again.
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by CURE06 June 27, 2010 7:48 PM EDT
I was three years old, fell off a slide and hit my head on concrete at my church, and 6 months later had a seizure and had epilepsy for 27 years of my life! I was able to have brain surgery 4 years ago and have the scar tissue that developed from my TBI removed. Thank you for doing a very in depth clip about Epilepsy and seizures. I had Petit Mal seizures the majority of my life, and people do not understand Epilepsy or the varying causes and types of seizures there are! I hope more people will begin to understand this horrible illness and that people will be more accepting of those of us that have or have had seizures!
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by purdoo1 June 27, 2010 7:46 PM EDT
Katie - wonderful story. My sister and a close friend have epilepsy -tragic disease - my prayers to all who suffer from it including David Axlerod's daughter! BUT - I must add that I was very upset that he likened Epilepsy to Terrorism of the Mind - don't get me wrong, that is an apt discription for most reasonable Americans - but an odd metaphor for him and other senior members of the Obama administration who have carefully and repeatedly gone about the task of eliminating "terrorism" and "terrorists" from their vocabulary to be poltically correct - shame on them for downplaying this threat to our country, and shame on him for trotting the word back out there now!
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by 88maverick June 27, 2010 7:45 PM EDT
Thank you, so much, 60 Minutes and David Axelrod, for focusing attention on epilepsy. Like my late father, I suffer from epilepsy. Research on this disease is woefully inadequate. I was ashamed of having the disease mostly because so many people have a medieval view of it. Misconceptions such as "Put a stick in his mouth to keep him from biting off his tongue" persist. There is more to epilepsy than mere seizures -- it colors your life and you live in fear. So many of us have had our lives changed by this disease --my seizures began when I was 28 years old. I've had two lives, one before the seizures began, the other last 31 years of living with the disease.
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by sumahumma June 27, 2010 7:35 PM EDT
I have severe migraines and most of my doctors give me epilepsy drugs in an attempt to control them. Would the implant help with migraines also?
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