By Monica Santellana

Diagnosis

My name is Monica and I started having seizures when I was ten years old. I am from Friona, Texas, a very small town in the Texas Panhandle. I am the only one in my family of four that has seizures. Despite taking a wide variety of medications, trying special diets, and having many doctor visits, my seizures continued to be uncontrolled.

New Treatment

I moved to San Antonio at age 20 and started being treated by the best doctor I could have asked for, Dr. Azreena Thomas. Because of her knowledge and love for her patients, I got a Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) device, and my seizures became manageable, but I continued to have seizures. 

Dr. Thomas is an epileptologist affiliated with Methodist Health System and is a longtime supporter of the Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas.  An epileptologist is an adult or pediatric neurologist who specializes in the treatment of epilepsy.

Surgery

When I was 28 years old, I became a candidate for brain surgery and Dr. Thomas helped me transfer to another amazing epileptologist, Dr. Charles A. Szabo.  They made a great team together with epileptologist Dr. Lola Morgan, and neurosurgeon Dr. Alexander Papanastassiou. These doctors are affiliated with UT Health San Antonio and are all longtime supporters of the Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas.

Seizure Free

After three brain surgeries, three years of recovery, and lots of heartache and tears, I’m proud to say that I have been seizure free for almost six years. Now I am 34 years old, working in a local hospital, and am a proud advocate of the Epilepsy Foundation.  

The Walk to END Epilepsy 

I’m a leader of a running group which you can see on our Walk Team page Running DORKS (Disciples of Risen King). We run in 5Ks each month in order to support different causes (cancer, addictions, heart disease, and epilepsy).

On November 2, we will be participating in the Walk to END Epilepsy – San Antonio at the San Antonio Zoo. It is because of this Foundation that I’m strong and healthy enough to be a part of this awesome running group.

I am so thankful to the Epilepsy Foundation Central and South Texas for all they do to help people with epilepsy and seizures and their families.

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