Diagnosed with epilepsy at age 19, Alison Hedquist has never let her illness define or distract her from her family, faith and goals.
For decades, she "managed" her illness through medication and determination. She earned her bachelor's degree, got married and became a mom, while remaining active in her church and its musical programs.
"From the start, I understood that it wasn't going to do me any good to fight the illness," she explains. "Instead, I focused on what I could control—and I put my faith in God."
Life's challenges didn't slow Alison down, either. After divorcing while her son was still an infant, she became a highly active single mom, taking her son to concerts, plays, sporting events and other attractions. She attended every parent-teacher meeting and was even a Cub Scout leader.
"I couldn't just shut down because I had epilepsy," Alison recalls. "I wanted my son to enjoy as much as possible, from big trips and events to simple family traditions at home."
Alison's determined approach worked well for many years, especially when her seizures lasted a few seconds. But over time, the episodes increased in frequency and intensity, sometimes causing her to garble her speech or even black out.
"I started worrying what might happen every day," she says. "What if I have a seizure at work? What if I black out? What if I fall? It started to disrupt my life and prevent me from doing things."
With medication alone no longer effective, Allison pursued surgical treatment. She was referred to the CNI Epilepsy Center, where she connected with neurosurgeon G. Alexander West, MD, and neurologist Kirsten Bracht, MD, and underwent extensive testing. "I knew God had led me to this extraordinary team," she says. "I knew this was the right time and the right choice for me."
Since her surgery in December 2008, when the lesion, or cortical dysplasia, was removed from the frontal lobe of her brain, Alison hasn't experienced a seizure. With the burden of "what if?" gone from her daily life, she's returned to the activities she loves—directing music at her church, spending time with family and friends, and even working at an accounting firm during tax season.
"There's no challenge that feels too big to me now," she says. "There's no more 'I can't do that because I might have a seizure.' I can just enjoy life."
Watch Alison!
Established in 1999, the Colorado Neurological Institute Cindy Acree Hope Awards Celebration is named for Cindy Acree, who underwent brain surgery for epilepsy, suffered a stroke, exhibited tenacity and courage throughout her recovery and continues to this day to encourage the community to learn about neurological conditions. The celebration is also named for Cindy's daughter, Hope.
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Diagnosed with epilepsy at age 19, Alison Hedquist has never let her illness define or distract her from her family, faith and goals.