Epilepsy sufferer helped through four-year nightmare by neighbour and carer
EPILEPTIC Julie Wells, 42, says it is the kindness of one of her former neighbours and a support worker that has seen her emerge from a four-year nightmare.
The resident of Sherbrooke Street, off Monks Road, Lincoln, told the Echo her story.
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Julie Wells.
"I was diagnosed with epilepsy aged three and had tonic clonic seizures fairly infrequently.
"As a young person aged 14 and upwards my epilepsy was brought under control and I went on to teach the piano and train as a secondary school teacher. I was completely independent, drove a car and travelled around the world alone.
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"Unfortunately, things went wrong in 1994 following a severe car crash in Doncaster, which was no fault of my own, and I began having seizures again. People who have watched me say I crash to the floor and my face starts contorting.
"I go blue around the lips and start frothing and foaming at the mouth before having convulsions.
"I have suffered many accidents, but the worst two were associated with boiling water.
"The second time the burns were so severe I had to have a skin graft and it was decided by the authorities it was no longer safe for me to live alone.
"They suggested I live in a residential home, but I refused and lived with my neighbour Hedley Speak for 18 months.
"Hedley was a retired gentleman who died in February, but was an amazing friend who looked after me 24 hours a day.
"He was my saviour.
"I was eventually allowed back home and had carers come and sit outside the bathroom in case I had a seizure in the bath, which did happen. I did not go out until I was appointed an adult supporting worker Linda Rudd.
"Linda encouraged me to take small steps, even if it was just to go to the supermarket, and my confidence improved.
"And following tweaks in my medication, I last had a seizure in January and my GP and neurologist can see no more problems.
"I volunteer at the National Society For Epilepsy's stand at Lincoln County Hospital and have managed to get on an Access To Nursing course at Lincoln College.
"I hope to work as a healthcare support worker to gain experience before training as a nurse.
"I feel I have an empathy because I know what it's like to be a patient."
Comments
by LincsCDA
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 8:11AM
“Shame this article does not give details of the support group which meets 10-12 first saturday of the month at Involve@lincoln in Mint lane, £1 for drinks”
by geoff, Almeria , Spain
Monday, August 02 2010, 7:41AM
“I most certainly empathsise with Julie. I too was diagnosed with Epilepsy at a young age and as a consequence missed much of my Junior and Senior schooling. However , I trained as a Mental health worker in 1982 and worked , despite continuing to have seizures, until 1995 when I was retired on Ill Health grounds. After a hiatus of 15 months I sought a different change regarding my career and retrained , again in the MH field, but as a Sessional worker in a small day centre. This I enjoyed for a number of years when, due to my partners' own health issues, left work and having paid off the mortgage, relocated to Southern Spain.
We're still here after 4 years, both live off our Pensions but are looking to return to the UK as soon as we find a buyer for our Villa.
All I can say to Julie is good luck , there is a huge support network system out there; please take advantage of it and just enjoy life whether its by day to day or year by year , Enjoy !”