In support of Purple Day (March 26), Kirsten and I have planned another purple picnic for our girls. For the special occasion, I’m busy preparing a purple pasta salad and baking purple cupcakes and any other purple provisions I can think of for our little picnic.
The purpose behind Purple Day and our pint-size purple picnic is to spread epilepsy awareness.
*Purple Day Picnic 2011*
Did you know that “epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide or approximately 1 in 100 people? That’s more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined.” (Statistic borrowed from purpleday.org.)
My niece, Meghan, is one of the people affected by epilepsy.
In a few weeks, our entire extended family will participate in the Hare Racing Experience to benefit epilepsy awareness. We’ll wear matching purple shirts and represent ourselves as Team Meggers in Meghan’s honor.
We gladly give our support and hearts to each of the causes because someone we love needs a cure.
*Purple ribbon photo by Kirsten*
Please consider wearing purple today to help spread epilepsy awareness.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/OfygHFRWayk?version=3&hl=en_US]
Have a purple song or photo to share? Join our Music Monday Purple Day Blog Hop. Link up and share. Linky will stay open until Sunday, April 1.
Additional facts about epilepsy from PurpleDay.org:
- Epilepsy affects approximately 1 in 100 people.
- At least 1 in every 10 people will have one seizure in their lifetime.
- There are approximately 300,000 Canadians living with epilepsy.
- There are approximately 3 million Americans living with epilepsy.
- There are approximately 50 million people around the world living with epilepsy.
- Epilepsy is NOT contagious. Epilepsy is NOT a disease. Epilepsy is NOT a psychological disorder.
- There is currently no “cure” for epilepsy. However, for 10-15% of people with epilepsy, the surgical removal of the seizure focus – the part of brain where the person’s seizures start – can eliminate all seizure activity. For more than half of people with epilepsy, medication will control their seizures. Additionally, some children will outgrow their epilepsy and some adults may have a spontaneous remission.
- Not everyone can identify specific events or circumstances that affect seizures, but some are able to recognize definite seizure triggers.
Some common triggers include:
Forgetting to take prescribed seizure medication
Lack of sleep
Missing meals
Stress, excitement, emotional upset
Menstrual cycle / hormonal changes
Illness or fever
Low seizure medication levels
Medications other than prescribed seizure medication
Flickering lights of computers, television, videos, etc., and sometimes even bright sunlight
Excessive alcohol consumption and subsequent withdrawal
Street drugs
I just so happen to be wearing purple today! 🙂 I didn’t know about Purple Day, though I have a good friend who’s epileptic. I’ll be sure to pick out purple clothes for Princess Nagger to wear to school when I wake her up shortly. 😉 LOVE your song choice, too! 🙂
Purple is my favorite color, but I’m not wearing it today. I’ll be sure to put some purple on later, though. Thanks for highlighting epilepsy awareness day for us.
Awesome! Thank you for taking the time to do a post like this it means a lot! We’re linked! xx
awesome post! Keep up the nifty work!
Love the song, I saw the play on Broadway but more important is your message and the fact that you are doing all you can for your niece that is suffering. I will be checking out the epilepsy website. Have a wonderful purple picnic!!
I know three young men, brothers of the same family, that had the surgery for their epilepsy. The eldest still has a seizure every now and then, but only when he is under great stress. Thanks for sharing this.
Danielle
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Abbie Anderson
Thank you for the comment, and love you very very appropriate choice for your song. Thanks for sharing, and have a great day my friend. Thanks for joining us.
Purple is one of my favorite colors. Glad it represents something wonderful like this.
I remember in the orphanage, we had to learn how to help the girl who had epilepsy just in case she’d have an episode while we were playing or out and about.
This is a great cause and I know you’ll pull it off wonderfully!
I wish I would have seen this this morning. I love purple.
How interesting. I’m sorry I did not know or I surely would’ve found something purple to wear. Thanks for sharing that bit of information. Also that you for your kind comment I do appreciate you stopping by, and your gracious in put.
I am sorry for the confusion I had asked Ms. Dolly to put a comment for me because my computer wasn’t working I thought it totally froze on me for more than a half hour, but it’s working again. I have no clue what happen, but she forgot to add that the above comment is from myself. Guess she was tired. You see this is my day time. The way I work at my security job I sleep during the day.. So that you’re not confused I thought I’d leave this note. Sorry. Have a good day.
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