VOICES from the HEART
Louis Stanislaw has brought us an extraordinary gift: a collection of deeply moving essays from men and women sharing their experiences with the age-old disorder of epilepsy. These stories are filled with wisdom and compassion, and they help erase the stigma and ignorance that accompanies epilepsy even today.
In “Helpless Onboard,” Jonathan Magaziner tells us of his feelings of pain and powerlessness as he sits on an airplane and watches a man a few rows away suffer a seizure—and then be carried off to an unknown destination.
In “Quiet Courage,” Lord Charles Guthrie, a distinguished British military commander, tells us about the strength and pride of a young soldier who refuses to let his secret battle with epilepsy halt his dreams of a sterling military career.
In “Coming Out The Other Side,” Bill Maier tells us of his personal angels, the doctors and nurses, who, through an advanced surgical procedure, were able to halt his seizures and put an end to the chaos that was destroying his life.
Finally, in “Reaching For The Stars with Epilepsy,” Amanda Rich shows us the full power of the human spirit, as she embraces her epilepsy not as an affliction but as a gift, a unique opportunity to learn and grow and help others along the way.
As you are about to discover, Louis has brought us true “VOICES from the HEART,” and reading them will lift your own heart and change your life forever.
Special Thanks
I would like to thank Paul Chutkow and Joseph Stanislaw, my father, for their unflagging support and assistance throughout this project. I would also like to thank my mother, Augusta, my siblings Katrina and Henry, and my brother-in-law Chad, for their love and support. Thanks also to the team’s advisors: John Allison, Susan Axelrod and Ron Heifetz. I would especially like to give thanks to my copy editor, Marcus Eliason, and my design artist, Dorothy Carico Smith, for their encouragement and their editorial and creative contributions. Above all, I want to thank the wonderful group of men and women who contributed their personal stories and insights to this collection. Each of their stories was a true inspiration for me, and I am most grateful for their time and effort, and for their eagerness to help bring important light and understanding to the subject of epilepsy.
The Writers
Susan Axelrod
The Foreword
Anonymous
"What To Tell the Children"
Anonymous
"Stresses and Strains: Reflections on Living with Epilepsy"
Mary Ellen Friesen
"Nursing and Epilepsy: How Far We’ve Come"
David Swisher
"My Father, My Hero"
Lorraine D
"The Stigma of Epilepsy"
Anne Louise Rossi
"A Valuable Lesson"
Sarah Ikerd
"From The Outside Looking In"
Peter Bogin
"A Father’s Pain and Pride"
Sandra Kinsella
"The Courage to Share"
Pat Condon
"Webster defines it as…"
Rebecca Ranich
"A Relentless Intruder: A Sister’s View"
Dylan Sef
"My Sister’s Voice"
Bill Maier
"Coming Out The Other Side"
Francis Hilton
"Observations from The Foot of The Cross"
David Mustine
"Unshakeable Memories, A Lost Opportunity"
Jed Breed
"Knowledge Is Everything"
David Swisher
"My Night with The Hindenburg"
Jonathan Magaziner
"Helpless Onboard"
Euan MacKay
"A Crashing Moment"
Patrick Biela
"In My Own Mind"
Marlene Jenkins
"An Art Teacher’s Perspective"
Michele Ranich
"Head Games"
Ashley Smith
"Coming Back: Our Journey Into Childhood Absence Epilepsy"
Judy & Scott Leisher
"The Impact of Epilepsy"
Cheryl Fyock
"Our Rollercoaster Ride"
Mark Medish
"The Cursed Spark"
Carrie Shuler
"The Power of Love"
Mark Robinson
"Learning from My Son"
Lia Turner
"Dear Universe"
Anonymous
"The Empty Chair"
Lord Charles Guthrie
"Quiet Courage"
Amanda Rich
"Reaching For The Stars With Epilepsy"
