Tiffany Kriesel

My daughter, Elise, had her first seizure at age one but wasn’t diagnosed with epilepsy until she was five. Despite subtle signs, her seizures went unnoticed until a visit to the emergency room changed everything. After exhausting medications and seeking multiple opinions, we faced the difficult reality of epilepsy surgery. It was an agonizing decision, but at age six, she underwent a right parietal/occipital resection for cortical dysplasia. The recovery was daunting, but the outcome was miraculous—she has been seizure-free since and off all epilepsy medications since the year following surgery.

Throughout this journey, I leaned on every resource I could find, speaking with anyone who had experience with epilepsy. While in the hospital for SPECT scans, we were incredibly fortunate to meet another local family whose child had undergone epilepsy surgery. That mother took time away from her own child’s recovery to share her experience with me. While we were still terrified, her support made all the difference.

Now, I want to be that person for other families. Elise still faces ADHD, dyslexia, and executive function challenges, so our journey continues, but we’ve built an incredible community along the way. I know how isolating and overwhelming this process can be, and I’m here to listen, share, and offer support to families navigating the same difficult path. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Languages spoken: English