Carly Mance, 23, was born in raised in Tucson, Arizona. In May of 2010, she graduated from Providence College in Rhode Island and currently lives in Flagstaff with her service-dog-in-training, Tugboat. She is currently studying to apply to graduate school in Boston. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 11 and has since become an active advocate for epilepsy awareness. Carly shares her story here.

Carly Mance, 23, was born in raised in Tucson, Arizona. In May of 2010, she graduated from Providence College in Rhode Island and currently lives in Flagstaff with her service-dog-in-training, Tugboat. She is currently studying to apply to graduate school in Boston. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 11 and has since become an active advocate for epilepsy awareness. Carly shares her story:

My name is Carly, and I have not been suffering from epilepsy for 12 years. I have been succeeding in spite of it. Since the day I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 11, I have made it a daily goal to approach it with honesty, openness and—most importantly— positivity. It was the scariest concept to face, but one that I am convinced has helped me through every struggle I have faced since then.

That is the attitude that I was surrounded by at the National Walk for Epilepsy this year. The people I saw that day are heroes. My dad and I decided to volunteer at the Walk several months ago. We looked forward to it as a learning experience, a chance to contribute to the cause and an opportunity to meet the people that helped make it happen. As Course Marshalls, we got to stand and watch hundreds of shivering and smiling people walk by. I was elated. Here we all were, joining together with two things in common: that we all have dealt with a difficult, complex and misunderstood condition, and that we all have chosen to take it in stride (literally!).

As much as I wish I could say that epilepsy has not affected me, and that I am still the same person I would be without it, I can’t. Having epilepsy has shaped who I am. But you know what? I’m perfectly OK with that. It took me about 9 years to find a combination of medications that controlled my tonic-clonic seizures and before then I went through a series of taxing procedures, including ambulatory and inpatient EEGS. (Don’t you hate how they can always tell when you’ve been scratching at the wires on your head?) Not to mention, most of my seizures occurred in the shower—not very convenient—or dignified!

In high school, I was asked to write a first-person feature article for my school newspaper on what it was like to have epilepsy. I remember waking up the morning it was published soaked in sweat and nauseous from the nerves. But by the end of the day, I was so happy I did it. It was not only a great release for me, but it was a chance to dispel some of the many myths about the condition. That is one of my proudest accomplishments to date. And that openness and honesty was present at the Walk en masse.

I have so much admiration for everyone I saw at the Walk this year. These are people that have dealt with unbelievable challenges—many that are beyond what I could imagine—and yet they put on their team T-shirts and walked proudly with each other, cheering and laughing in the face of adversity. They have accepted the challenge that life gave them and handled it with bravery, confidence and humor (particularly the Cincinnati team with the “Seizure Salads” T-shirts...well done!).

I want to thank everyone who walked for epilepsy this year. Whether it was local or national, you have made me proud to have epilepsy, and honored to be a part of a community of people that have such support for each other. This was more than a learning experience for me; it was a confirmation that people with epilepsy just plain rock. The In My Own Words column gives people whose lives are affected by epilepsy the chance to share experiences and solutions to their problems. These are real stories by real people that show strength, resilience, optimism and courage. We hope they will inspire others.