Charlotte Pennicott

My Activity Tracking

1,678
kms

My target 100 kms

Walk for Epilepsy

My twin sister Georgia began experiencing epileptic seizures when she was 7. Her seizures went unnoticed by our parents for months until her condition worsened, she started having up to three seizures a day and at least one at night.

Once diagnosed with epilepsy, Georgia’s seizures were managed with medication, and they became less frequent, mostly occurring at night.

When Georgia was 13, her condition deteriorated, and she began having up to seven seizures a day. This severity made it impossible for her to attend school regularly, and she required monthly hospital visits. She was eventually flown to Melbourne to live with our mum as her seizures increased to 18 a day. At this point, she was admitted to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where doctors decided on emergency brain surgery due to the extensive amount of seizures her body wasn’t coping and was essentially shutting down.

The surgery was successful in managing her tonic-clonic seizures, but Georgia woke up paralyzed. She had to work hard to regain her ability to walk with the help of an AFO and walking sticks, and also to regain the mobility of her hands.

When Georgia turned 14, her seizures returned in a different form, and she began experiencing more frequent auras. In 2016, she underwent a second brain surgery, which resulted in weakness in her left lower limb.

Now 24, Georgia has made significant progress despite the challenges. She has a lifelong disability but maintains a positive outlook on life. She works full-time, has been seizure-free for over a year, and recently obtained her learner’s permit, a major achievement.

Epilepsy is often misunderstood, and many people are unsure how to respond to someone having a seizure. I urge everyone to educate themselves—understanding epilepsy can save lives. To support Georgia’s 18-year journey and raise awareness for epilepsy, I will be walking from October 1st to 25th. Please join me in this effort to increase understanding and support for those affected by this condition 💜