Jeremiah Norris was born in Richmond, VA., on April 22, 1977, with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. He had his first epileptic seizure shortly after being born and was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Growing up, Jeremiah was enrolled in special education classes. Despite this, he experienced bullying from other students and one of his teachers would accuse him of lying when he reported having seizures. Fortunately for Jeremiah, his father stepped in to protect him in these situations. He also participated in the Special Olympics, playing soccer. Jeremiah also experienced bullying in this environment because of his disease, but his father was always there to take care of him.
When he went to college, Jeremiah continued to struggle socially. He ended up dropping out due to difficulties and challenges. His first job, at Busch Gardens, was to make desserts in an assembly line. Despite it being a temporary position, he was fired. He also worked at McDonald’s but was let go after having a disagreement with a co-worker. Currently, Jeremiah is on disability and gets a small check from it. He also has Medicaid and Medicare.
For Jeremiah, every day has its own challenges – financial struggles and lack of transportation among them. When he can, he participates in open mic where he can play guitar, but it is often a far distance for him to travel. His passion for making music and connecting with others makes him feel accomplished and less alone.
Thankfully, Jeremiah learned about Epilepsy Alliance Florida through an internet search. He wanted help socially, to better connect with others and learn about available resources, especially with his father getting older. Jeremiah has participated in case management services and joined online and in person support groups. The most significant way the organization has helped him is by letting him know that he’s not alone in the fight against epilepsy. With Epilepsy Alliance Florida’s support Jeremiah also recently started receiving counseling.
Jeremiah plans on remaining an Epilepsy Alliance Florida client to attend support groups and other events where he can connect with others living with epilepsy.
