I've borrowed the following information from Michelle of Rambling Woods-The Road Less Traveled.
A little bit about Purple Day…
Founded in 2008, by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada, Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26, people from around the globe are asked to wear purple and spread the word about epilepsy.
Why? Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide. That’s more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined.
Why purple? Lavender is the international colour for epilepsy.
Epilepsy Facts
Epilepsy affects approximately 1 in 100 people.
At least 1 in every 10 people will have one seizure in their lifetime.
There are approximately 300,000 Canadians living with epilepsy.
There are approximately 3 million Americans living with epilepsy.
There are approximately 50 million people around the world living with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is NOT contagious. Epilepsy is NOT a disease. Epilepsy is NOT a psychological disorder.
There is currently no “cure” for epilepsy. However, for 10-15% of people with epilepsy, the surgical removal of the seizure focus – the part of brain where the person’s seizures start – can eliminate all seizure activity. For more than half of people with epilepsy, medication will control their seizures. Additionally, some children will outgrow their epilepsy and some adults may have a spontaneous remission.
For more information on epilepsy please visit Michele at The Rocky Mountain Retreat Photography. Michele has gorgeous photos of her Canadian paradise and shows us how her courageous spirit battles the challenges epilepsy.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
14 comments:
I LOVE hearing from you!
However, if you sign in as ANONYMOUS, please don't forget to tell me who you are in the comment box by just writing your first name. We would all appreciate it if you kept your comment respectful and kind.
I apologize for having to use Word Verification occasionally, but the SPAM is making me crazy.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think it's great that so many of us are calling attention to the Purple Day. Let's hope that it helps focus attention on the need for more research. Thanks for all this information.
ReplyDeleteThanks!!! I'll weaR purple, too!
ReplyDeleteGood information! I'm so glad the idea of Epilepsy Awareness Day is spreading throughout blogland.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you.
ReplyDeleteI had an uncle who had epilepsy after lightning struck him as a boy. He couldn't go to school, didn't marry and lived with my grandma his entire life. In those days 1920s there were no pills or treatment.
ReplyDeleteGood on ya, Kay, to pass on dear Michele's information. She certainly puts a face on the word epilepsy for all us readers of her blogs.
ReplyDeleteI saw her post yesterday and it is a worthy cause. I hope it all works.
ReplyDeleteI answered about the bamboo -- the comment you had made. Thanks for visiting.
Wonderful that you are raising awareness for this! I will have to dig out some purple this morning!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post Kay.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. Our neighbour was diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager, and had to give up his place on the local sports teams, which he loved; he's also on medication. His mother and I were talking about how difficult it was to have a child with an 'invisible' condition (our son has autism) because people often don't understand or aren't even aware of what they're going through. I've marked my calendar for next year: I have plenty of purple!
ReplyDeleteI was teaching in an open classroom situation when a young colleague had her first seizure while she was reading with her 6th graders. Ironically, a few weeks later one of her students had her first seizure. The school district brought a team to check out our part of the school in case there was an environmental problem. It was just one of those mysterious coincidences I guess.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have lots of purple for next year.
What a wonderful post! I have a little purple on today!
ReplyDeleteKay;
ReplyDeleteI'll be wearing my purple next year for sure. Thank you for all the facts about epilepsy. I remembered when we lived in the village our friend, Diane P. younger brother died in his room during an epilepsy attack. Such a sad time.
Thanks for sharing such helpful info! I am a day late but I wore purple today! Another gorgeous header and purple to boot!
ReplyDelete