I didn't know the deadline. I figured it had passed by the time I thought of something to write last night. I mean it is the end of May, for goodness sake.

I never actually wrote anything specific. Here's the general idea, anyway.

I have epilepsy. Fighting epilepsy is like fighting the dark arts. After 3 brain surgeries, I've decided I cannot win the war. Still, it's worth fighting. With epilepsy it's day by day. Every drug I try and each of my surgeries has been an attempt to delay epilepsy from taking over my life again. Each works for a little while, but the seizures always return within a few weeks. It's a constant battle.

It's worth fighting, though, even though the war itself can never be won. Each 'normal' day of my life is a gift. I only wish I qualified for a study to test a new treatment. I would gladly sacrifice myself so that others may survive without seizures. The epileptic tissue is so intertwined in my brain now that 'neither can live while the other survives'.

Lisa,
Come join us at http://groups.google.com/group/beedleballadeers. We are going to have some fun writing poems and all sorts of things. We are all people who entered this contest but were not selected. We want to do a book, or web site for charity, so we will have honors rather than winners (and everyone will be a winner)!!!! Nothing much has happened there, as we are just formulating ideas, but we would love to have you there. The deadlines and all the things we do will be inclusive of all participants. Come join and let us know how you feel about things. You can read up on these threads on Amazon, to see how we all met and decided to do this. Then come join us and read there to catch up a bit. You can post your entry also if you like!!!! Take good care of yourself Lisa, you will be fine. I hope to see you joined us, please write me a note to tell me you are there in case your name is different!!!!!

Fighting epilepsy does resemble fighting the dark arts. I have thought the same thing as I watch my 16 year old son suffer from seizures, too. I appreciate hearing from those of you who understand the seizure experience and can describe it, since he can't speak enough to tell me how it feels. I pray that research wizards will be given insight on how to neutralize these electrical brainstorms. You have a brave and generous spirit. Thank you for your thoughts.

B. Cooper: go to epilepsyfoundation.org, ecommunities. There are tons of people going through what you and your son are going through. They have provided me support and I've discovered so much about the disease. They all know what we are going through.
Lisa