Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom
Donation protected
Seize Epilepsy with a Smile
Did You Know?
In the U.S. there are nearly 3.4 million people with epilepsy. That is 3 million adults and 470,000 children who deal with this disease daily. I am one of them.
Hi, my name is Tyrell Stevenson and I’m from Columbia, South Carolina. I was diagnosed with epilepsy while I was in college and was forced to withdraw from my courses. I came back home and have been living with the disease ever since. While that was eight years ago, I am still hopeful that one day I will be able to return to college.
Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom
I came up with the idea of the Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom non-profit organization after researching a new medication my doctors wanted to prescribe for my epilepsy. The vast majority of the patient reviews for this medicine were negative, including side effects like crippling anxiety and the inability to speak clearly or process words properly. Most damning of all, some patients were still having seizures! Not only was this medication not helping their epilepsy, it was also adding symptoms to what is already a physically violent disease.
Since then, I’ve been attempting different strategies and approaches to my care, and I want to help others do the same with their epilepsy battle. That’s why I’ve decided to found the non-profit organization called Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom, to help others like me. My hope is to help others rid their lives of the embarrassment and debilitating effects of this disease so they can begin to thrive again when they regain their ability to lead a normal life.
What’s in a Name?
I came up with the name Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom after I chipped one of my teeth while having an epileptic seizure. I was always known for my perfect smile, and after I chipped the tooth it felt like my smile was less perfect; that I was less shiny because my bright smile was broken. I started to feel lonely and isolated, like I could no longer share my smile with the world because of a simple chip. Epilepsy had finally disfigured me, and I was starting to sink into a pit of despair over a chipped tooth. That’s when I realized how silly and wrong I was! I wasn’t going to let a chipped tooth get in the way of my brightness, and I wasn’t going to be afraid to share my smile with the world just because I have this disease. I realized that no matter what, you can always overcome. You just have to keep smiling!
Fundraising
My goal is to raise $25,000 with this fundraiser. Every dollar raised will go toward helping me establish a non-profit by filing for a 501(c)(3) status and toward finding the right people to organize, launch, and manage Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom. The funds received will also help Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom to achieve two goals. The first goal is to spread a greater awareness of epilepsy through educational and informational avenues that include up to date and accurate information of the disease. The second goal is to donate toward the research of alternative therapies and medications that will aid in the treatment of epilepsy. Most of all, I want people living with this disease to know they are human and know they are not alone.
Social Media
One more favor? Could you please share this campaign with your friends and family on social media? I understand that not everyone is in a position to help reach our goal financially, especially during these trying times. But every share on social media gets us that much closer to our goal and it would be so appreciated!
Did You Know?
In the U.S. there are nearly 3.4 million people with epilepsy. That is 3 million adults and 470,000 children who deal with this disease daily. I am one of them.
Hi, my name is Tyrell Stevenson and I’m from Columbia, South Carolina. I was diagnosed with epilepsy while I was in college and was forced to withdraw from my courses. I came back home and have been living with the disease ever since. While that was eight years ago, I am still hopeful that one day I will be able to return to college.
Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom
I came up with the idea of the Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom non-profit organization after researching a new medication my doctors wanted to prescribe for my epilepsy. The vast majority of the patient reviews for this medicine were negative, including side effects like crippling anxiety and the inability to speak clearly or process words properly. Most damning of all, some patients were still having seizures! Not only was this medication not helping their epilepsy, it was also adding symptoms to what is already a physically violent disease.
Since then, I’ve been attempting different strategies and approaches to my care, and I want to help others do the same with their epilepsy battle. That’s why I’ve decided to found the non-profit organization called Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom, to help others like me. My hope is to help others rid their lives of the embarrassment and debilitating effects of this disease so they can begin to thrive again when they regain their ability to lead a normal life.
What’s in a Name?
I came up with the name Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom after I chipped one of my teeth while having an epileptic seizure. I was always known for my perfect smile, and after I chipped the tooth it felt like my smile was less perfect; that I was less shiny because my bright smile was broken. I started to feel lonely and isolated, like I could no longer share my smile with the world because of a simple chip. Epilepsy had finally disfigured me, and I was starting to sink into a pit of despair over a chipped tooth. That’s when I realized how silly and wrong I was! I wasn’t going to let a chipped tooth get in the way of my brightness, and I wasn’t going to be afraid to share my smile with the world just because I have this disease. I realized that no matter what, you can always overcome. You just have to keep smiling!
Fundraising
My goal is to raise $25,000 with this fundraiser. Every dollar raised will go toward helping me establish a non-profit by filing for a 501(c)(3) status and toward finding the right people to organize, launch, and manage Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom. The funds received will also help Smiles for Epilepsy Freedom to achieve two goals. The first goal is to spread a greater awareness of epilepsy through educational and informational avenues that include up to date and accurate information of the disease. The second goal is to donate toward the research of alternative therapies and medications that will aid in the treatment of epilepsy. Most of all, I want people living with this disease to know they are human and know they are not alone.
Social Media
One more favor? Could you please share this campaign with your friends and family on social media? I understand that not everyone is in a position to help reach our goal financially, especially during these trying times. But every share on social media gets us that much closer to our goal and it would be so appreciated!
Organizer
Tyrell Stevenson
Organizer
Irmo, SC
