LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. The Epilepsy Foundation says that 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. They say that it is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world and that people living with epilepsy can still lead full lives. A mother and her son are doing the best they can to do so after they were both diagnosed.

What You Need To Know

  • Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures

  • The Epilepsy Foundation says that 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime

  • People with epilepsy can live full lives, as evidenced by mother Jami Block and her son, Reid, who both have the condition

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 450,000 children have epilepsy nationwide

Reid Block is spending his fall break on the playground.

He’s nine-years-old, plays on a baseball team and loves all things outdoors.

“My team is called the Rays,” said Reid. 

He does it all, but things aren’t always easy.

“We live with the anxiety on if we are going to have a seizure that day or we live with the side effects of medication every day,” said Jami Block, Reid’s mom. 

When Reid was four, he was diagnosed with epilepsy like his mother.

“Around the same time that I was diagnosed. We are still going through monitoring, therapy and medication changes with him to try to find the right combination,” said Jami. 

Around puberty, Jami was cleared from having to be monitored for her epilepsy. There is a possibility that this could happen to Reid, too.

“I was able to go to school, get a degree, and become a nurse practitioner and I love my job. I love being able to help families go though medical struggles just like I did and just like we are with our child,” she said. 

She works with the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentucky to help advocate for others and for Reid.

“There still is a negative stigma. And so what we are really trying to focus on is that we empower people living with epilepsy. So that they know they are not facing epilepsy alone,” said Cortney Johnson with Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 450,000 children have epilepsy nationwide.

Jami says that Reid has recently found a treatment at the Mayo Clinic and it has helped his spike wave index go down tremendously, meaning Reid can focus better in school and talk to his family more.

“We still have a lot of struggles, and it’s not perfect. But we are improving,” said Jami. 

The Epilepsy Foundation Kentuckiana is hosting its Expressions of Hope Golden Gala the weekend of Nov. 1-3. Learn more about that and other upcoming events on their website.

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