June 14, 2020
A Word from Our President
I want to open this epilepsy blog thanking everyone for their support as we launch our foundation. I could not have made this dream possible without the support of my board members, professors, mentors, classmates, and the members of the epilepsy community. I appreciate every one of you and I look forward to the journey ahead as we advocate for those battling epilepsy.
I have been battling epilepsy now for forty years and despite the advancements they have made in treating epilepsy, the stigma is still there. It shows the importance of educating others about epilepsy and advocating for the community to open educational and economic opportunities for those battling epilepsy.
I am honored that I have the privilege of working with advocates on a global level and I look forward to the projects we are putting together to make a difference worldwide. We have a long journey ahead of us as we network and build our foundation. It will take time, a lot of effort, and a lot of sacrifice from so many. Every step of the way will be worth it and the challenges we face as we enter this journey, we will face head on.
The mission that I have set for this foundation is that we are a support system for everyone affected by epilepsy, including caregivers and physicians. We are here to offer support to everyone; we will not ignore this community and allow members to feel they have no support system. We are a family and as a family we will look out for one another.
I am here to advocate for all of you and I do not want anyone to hesitate to reach out to us. I created this foundation because for years I tried to reach out to existing foundations in my area to have my calls and emails ignored. It sent a clear message that the community was not a concern, marketing to the pharmaceutical companies, biomedical companies, and other large corporations were the priority. The priority here is the well-being of our community and I will not allow members to be ignored.
Thank you again for your support and I look forward to beginning this journey with all of you. Love yourself, advocate for yourself, focus on your well-being, and together we will defeat epilepsy.
Sincerely,
Natalie L. Boehm
President, The Defeating Epilepsy Foundation
