A New Outlook on Life
Barry has been living with epilepsy since he was 13 years old. He recalls having daily seizures and that it took a while for him to receive the correct diagnosis. When he reached his mid 20’s he was referred by Dr. Eugene Ramsay to join Epilepsy Alliance Florida due to loss of insurance coverage. Barry recalls this being a very difficult and worrisome time. He was afraid he would no longer have access to the life-saving medications he was taking and did not have the ability to pay for them out of pocket. He said that when he walked into the Fort Lauderdale office for the first time he immediately felt at ease. Barry met his case manager who explained all of the services and created a plan of care to address his needs. Barry learned about the patient assistance program and was able to continue receiving brand name medication free of charge. He has attended support groups and gained new friendships. He reports that he feels more confident and has learned so much by attending Epilepsy Alliance Florida sponsored educational dinners and symposiums.
We asked Barry about his outlook on life now after living with epilepsy for the past 40 years. He stated that having the support of Epilepsy Alliance Florida has made a significant impact on his life. He credits the organization with helping him obtain better seizure control and a better quality of life. He stated that the staff he has worked with over the years, including case managers and our staff psychologist have been instrumental to him. Barry still lives with the fear and uncertainty that can come along with having epilepsy but feels better knowing that he can count on Epilepsy Alliance Florida to support him.