Latest news with #PurpleDay
Toronto Star
26-04-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
How these puppet masters are using children's theatre to ‘change the world' — one tough topic at a time
The duo was fine-tuning their act for a pair of workshops at St. Eugene Catholic School in Etobicoke, where students would soon learn about Purple Day — also known as Epilepsy Awareness Day.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is an absence seizure?
(NewsNation) — March 26 is Purple Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy worldwide. An estimated 50 million people worldwide are diagnosed with epilepsy, and seizures are the main symptom of the disorder. What most people think of when they hear seizure are tonic-clonic seizures, characterized by jerking movements of the body and often including confusion or loss of consciousness. What is Signal, the messaging app allegedly used by Trump officials? But those are not the only types of seizures associated with epilepsy; other types are less well known. One of those is an absence seizure, which can be much more difficult to detect. Absence seizures include a brief, sudden lapse of consciousness. They often last between three to 15 seconds, and the person experiencing the seizure may stare blankly into space for a few seconds before returning to alertness. These seizures are more common in children, many of whom outgrow them, but they can also be present in adults. Some people with absence seizures will go on to develop other types of seizures. Absence seizures can be difficult to detect because there is no lingering confusion or drowsiness, and the person who has the seizure may not even be aware they have had one. Someone having an absent seizure may appear to be daydreaming or distracted. They will usually stop what they're doing, stare into space, and may have small involuntary movements like fluttering eyelids, lip smacking or rubbing fingers together. The Atlantic releases full Signal text chain During a short seizure, the person and those around them may not even realize what has happened. In longer absence seizures, the person seizing may feel they have missed time. Kids with absence seizures may appear to be daydreaming or distracted to parents and teachers. Absence seizures aren't usually physically harmful but can become dangerous if someone has one while driving a car, riding a bicycle or doing any other kind of physical activity where a lapse in attention could be risky. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pita Way in DeWitt to host ‘Epilepsy Awareness Day' fundraiser
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – March 26 marks 'Purple Day,' also known as 'Epilepsy Awareness Day,' a global initiative to raise awareness about the condition and support people who deal with it daily. Epilepsy is the general term for a variety of neurological conditions characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, it's the fourth most common neurological disorder in the United States, and nearly 4% of Americans will develop it at some point in their lives. There's a fundraiser happening Wednesday at Pita Way in DeWitt – 13070 Old U.S. 27 – from 4 p.m.- 9 p.m. The restaurant will donate 20% of its sales to the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. 6 News anchors Jorma Duran and Megan Viecelli talked with Emily Romblom to learn more about epilepsy and Wednesday's fundraiser. Read Romblom's essay, 'Seizing the Moment' below: Seizing-The-MomentDownload Click here to learn how to help someone having a seizure. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Don't let epilepsy stop your ambitions', says Camberley man
A former professional ice hockey player who lives with epilepsy says young people with the condition should never give up on their Franks, from Camberley in Surrey, dreamed of becoming a sportsman but said he thought his plans were destroyed when he was diagnosed at the age of after years of determination and treatment, Adam was invited to train with the first team at the Guildford Flames and was eventually chosen to play for them mark Purple Day on Wednesday - the international epilepsy awareness day - Adam said that epilepsy did not need to stand in the way of a successful career. "When I was diagnosed it was difficult to process," he said."One minute you're a normal kid then the next day your world has changed completely."Adam, now 43, explained that when he was diagnosed with epilepsy, his school didn't know how to support him."If I had one [a seizure] at school then the teachers left me in a room by myself until my parents got there," he said."It's hard to know what to do without panicking, but the main thing to remember is the three Cs - calm, cushion and call for help."The Epilepsy Society recommends anyone who sees someone having a seizure should stay calm, cushion the person's head with something soft, and call for who played two seasons for Guildford Flames and now runs a clothing brand, is joining thousands of others with epilepsy to spread the message of the three Cs on Purple Day.
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Blackpool Tower tribute to organ donor who saved eight lives
The name of a young woman with epilepsy who saved eight lives through organ donation will shine out from Blackpool Tower on a day dedicated to raising awareness of the Shaw, from Blackpool, died aged 33 in March 2023 from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).On Wednesday her parents have arranged for the landmark to be lit in purple in her memory, just over two years after her annually on 26 March, Purple Day is an internationally recognised day focused on sharing information about epilepsy worldwide. Jessica's mum Gillian Whittaker said: "Jessica was a beautiful person inside and out and was loved and cherished by all her friends and family. She gave the biggest hugs and had the brightest smile."Jessica was loving and giving, and donating her organs says everything about who she was as a person. We are so proud of her final selfless act."Jessica was diagnosed with epilepsy aged six but despite the challenges she faced lived a full life, including 18 months travelling around and working in Australia, where she climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge and swam in the Great Barrier Reef. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
