Help Fund CURE Epilepsy & Support Dana's Ongoing Journey

Hello friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

My name is Dana, and I’m reaching out to you at a time of unexpected change in my life. Earlier this year, just as my husband and I were beginning our lives together, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. It came out of nowhere, changing my life in profound ways. Nearly 50% of epilepsy cases, like mine, have no clear cause, leaving me with more questions than answers about why this condition began in my adult years. Since February, I’ve spent numerous days in hospitals and testing centers, including a week-long stay in an epilepsy monitoring unit. We’re currently exploring my final round of medications, and if these don’t work, surgery may be my next step.

This fundraiser is about turning these challenges into hope—not just for me, but for the 1 in 26 people who will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime. The goal for my family and I is to raise $10,000, with 10% (<1,000) helping to cover my current and future medical bills and the remaining 90% (9,000) going to support CURE Epilepsy, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing research toward a cure. Despite being more common than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, and ALS combined, epilepsy is still an underfunded condition, and many people like me are left without a clear understanding of what causes our seizures.

Each day brings a mixture of hope and uncertainty. Some days I feel like myself, while others are shadowed by seizures and the lingering effects they leave behind. Epilepsy has turned even the simplest routines into challenges. I’ve gone from living fiercely independent to relying on my family and friends, something I’m grateful for but also eager to move beyond. I look forward to a day when I can get back to driving, working confidently, and living without the constant fear of a seizure interrupting my life.

This fundraiser represents more than just my immediate needs—it’s a way to support research that could lead to genetic testing breakthroughs, improved treatments, and ultimately, a cure. With your help, we can fuel a future where epilepsy is no longer a mystery, and no one else has to face this journey alone.

If you’re able to donate, thank you. Every little bit helps bring us closer to a cure. And if you can’t donate right now, please consider sharing my story, and the story of many, with others. Together, I believe we can change lives—mine, and those of millions living with epilepsy.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Stacey & Dana Gardner + Our Families