Jerome (Germany)

Living with epilepsy since 1989

Epilepsy Advocate

To a man who loves sports, epilepsy has been only an obstacle to be leaped over, and a competitor to be bested.  Jérôme has been active in sports for his whole life, testing his mettle in competitions of swimming, bicycling and running.

Jérôme experienced his first two seizures as a child in school and his third, more serious seizure on the way to swim practice.  He was transported to a hospital and confined for six weeks before being diagnosed with epilepsy.  His doctor warned to stop participating in sports. He stopped for awhile, but felt compelled to compete to prove that his epilepsy wouldn’t defeat him. He admits that he has been lucky to go on uninjured, given the risks he has taken.

With the support of his family and his neurologist, Jérôme began medication and his seizures became fewer and far between.  He has since completed several triathlons and he has been seizure-free since 2003.  Jérôme now has a driver’s license and works as a physical therapist.  He continues to live a very athletic lifestyle.