Samara Smith

Living With Epilepsy

Two years ago, at 45 years old, my life changed in a way I never expected. I was diagnosed with epilepsy.

When you hear the word epilepsy, it’s easy to picture someone having a seizure. But living with epilepsy has taught me that there is so much more to it than what people see from the outside.

There are the seizures, of course, but there is also the uncertainty, the exhaustion, the appointments, the medications, the recovery, and the fear of not knowing when the next episode might happen. There are things you can no longer take for granted, and sometimes there are invisible struggles that are much harder to explain.

For me, epilepsy has changed the way I look at my life. It has challenged my independence, my confidence and, at times, my sense of who I am. There have been moments of fear, frustration and embarrassment, but also moments of incredible support and kindness from the people around me.

I am sharing my story because epilepsy can happen to anyone, at any age. It doesn't always look the way people expect it to, and living with it isn't simply about what happens during a seizure.

I want to help create more understanding, reduce the stigma and remind people that behind every diagnosis is a person learning to navigate a life they never expected to have.

I’m still learning what living with epilepsy means for me. But if sharing my experience helps even one person feel less alone, or helps someone else understand epilepsy a little better, then it is worth sharing.

This October, I’m turning my awareness into action. 💜

October is Walk for Epilepsy 2026, and I’m taking on the challenge of walking 4km every day for 26 days to help raise awareness and start conversations about epilepsy.

My goal isn’t just to count kilometres. It’s to help people understand that epilepsy is more than a seizure, more than a diagnosis and more than something that happens to someone else.

So please get behind me this October, follow my journey, share my story and help me spread awareness. Every conversation helps.

26 days. 4km a day. One important message: epilepsy awareness matters. 💜

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