Woman goes viral after helping stranger on the brink of an epileptic fit
A woman has gained viral status on Twitter after helping a stranger on public transport who suffers from epilepsy.
Erynn Brook, a media student, from Ontario, Canada, described how she was travelling back home at 10pm when she came across a young woman.
The 18-year-old revealed she was on the brink of an epileptic fit, and provided her with a “seizure plan” to explain what was about to happen.
READ MORE: Woman robbed as she had an epileptic seizure
The subsequent thread has been praised by the internet for highlighting the everyday experience of living with the condition.
I was on my way home after work. It’s about 10pm, and the subway is pulling up to my stop. I’ve been stressed about my own stuff for days now and I’m in my little bubble and just as I stand up the girl across from me starts talking.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
She’d been looking at me and I hadn’t really noticed. Her lips were barely moving, but I took out one earbud and said “pardon?” And she said “are you getting off soon?” And I said yes.
The train was mostly empty. But then I noticed she was holding a laminated sheet of paper out.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
At the top it said “my seizure plan”. I blinked at it then looked up at her. “Are you having a seizure now?” I asked.
“No, but I’m about to.” She looked down at the monitor on her finger. “Can you sit with me until your stop?” She asked.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
Brook described how she deciding to stay on with the woman as she began having a seizure.
Then she seized. She had already moved her purse out of the way and folded her scarf in a place to catch her head as she slumped over. I sat next to her and read her seizure plan.
She’s 18.
I check my phone and start timing her seizure. I sit down. My stop comes and goes.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
Reading the woman’s seizure plan, she learns these seizures occur between one and four times a day and last between 10 minutes and an hour.
It says she gets these seizures 1-4 times a day, and each episode lasts 10-60mins.
Just think about that for a second. Think about being randomly completely vulnerable multiple times a day, and this is just… every day.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
A few times she mentions how tired she is, and how close to home she is. Going up these stairs we keep an eye on her monitor. A train goes by and she covers her ears. Loud noises are a trigger for her. I ask if fluorescent lights are too, she nods. We make it out of the station.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
Later down in the thread, Brook – who escorted the young woman home – expresses what she has learnt through the difficulties associated with living with epilepsy.
READ MORE: Reddit user’s chilling story about dangers women face on public transport
I have so many feelings. And they keep coming back to that scarf. That’s the image I see. How it was pre-folded before she even asked for help. How she positioned herself to fall on the scarf pillow again and again.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
It’s not a story about me being a good person. It’s not a story about how brave she is (though she clearly is), it’s a story about human needs, through the lens of disability, and how accessibility is not the same as acceptance or community care.
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
She also expresses her fears for sufferers’ safety.
[cn/tw: assault]
There is no policy or program structure that addresses the high rates of assault for disabled folks. Sexual violence, violent crimes, domestic violence, are all statistically more likely to happen to people with disabilities.https://t.co/xLbCttZsf5
— Erynn Brook (@ErynnBrook) April 4, 2019
She has been praised for sharing her experience, which many agree highlights the vulnerability of living with epilepsy.
Goosebumps. Thank you for so poetically illuminating such a vulnerability. 🙏🏻
— Cathy Litchfield (@cathy_litch) April 5, 2019
Wow. I’m not ashamed to admit this thread brought tears. Even as a father of a 19 yr old daughter w/ epilepsy it gave me additional perspective. Thank you!
— Shawn O’Rourke (@shawnosr) April 5, 2019
Really. I have epilepsy and this thread is so on point. It is scary.
And, I know it is scary to handle seizures just happening.
This is my laminated paper: pic.twitter.com/E9fWlidlN6
— your ideal mom (@jasperhairless) April 5, 2019
As someone with epilepsy, I couldn’t help but wonder if this woman lived somewhere with better access to affordable health care if she would have more controlled epilepsy. Better access to affordable medications and specialists. No one should have to live this way.
— Marie Cee (@MarieCeee) April 5, 2019
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a common condition which causes frequent seizures due bursts of electrical activity in the brain, according to the NHS website.
It can start at any age but most commonly begins either in childhood or in one’s 60s.
For more information on epilepsy, including how to help someone who is having a seizure, visit the Epilepsy Action website.