EB Starts Speech/Reading/Writing Therapy + San Antonio, TX Fundraiser Dinner

Mandy (EB) before she started falling asleep after her first day of  Speech/Reading/Writing therapy!

Hello, my Epilepsy Warriors!

Note: I am still writing that post about my time in heaven. Writing is not as easy as it once was, unfortunately. Mainly due to unclear thoughts and the struggle for my brain to pass information. However, it's understandable since I have missing chunks!

Anyway, I have had many ask questions about what I do during reading/writing/speech therapy. I thought that sending you part of an e-mail from my wonderful therapist could help you all understand better! I will mention just how difficult it is. My brain actually shuts itself down to SLEEP as I attempt to read, and I noticed this intensely during appointment #1. I couldn't keep my eyes open, and slept 4 hours when I got home! After my day #1, I was sent an assessment that showed me I am struggling with more than I was able to understand...




"Hi Mandy,

 It was really great meeting with you today. Based on the Cognitive Linguistic Evaluation I completed this morning, we will be working on the following during therapy:

 - Strategies to improve selective attention (ability to block out background noise or distractions).

- Strategies to improve divided attention (ability to multitask).

- Strategies for expressive language (specifically word finding).

 - Compensatory strategies for Memory.

- Reading comprehension.

I look forward to working with you; please let your parents know that they are welcome to email me with questions and/or comments at any time.

Thanks again,

******* Cantu, MA CCC-SLP"

Note: I have removed name for privacy reasons. If you are looking for a wonderful speech therapist in the San Antonio, Texas area, please e-mail me for her info. MandyKrzywonski@EpilepsyBlogger.org

So basically - I am missing quite a bit. Thankfully The Lord has blessed me with amazing doctors and therapists!!! Anyhow, this is just an update!!! I would write more, but my brain is tired just from this short amount of writing. Stay tuned for my next post about what I saw in heaven during brain surgery #2!!!

Love,
Mandy Krzywonski
EpilepsyBlogger

PLEASE HELP MANDY THIS SATURDAY!!!

Benefit for Mandy: the Epilepsy Warrior

$6 a plate

To reserve your meal and buy tickets today, you can CALL/TEXT Mandy OR e-mail MandyKrzywonski@EpilepsyBlogger.org!

Plates include BBQ Chicken, Rice, Beans, Potato Salad & Jalapeño Bread!!!

Can't make it but would like to help? For those who can NOT make it, but would still like to DONATE, visit this link: http://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/yz12/amandasfightagainstepilepsy

"Donations will NOT be wasted and will truly help me get back to living life and helping other folks BEAT EPILEPSY!!! All donations are appreciated 100%, even if you couldn't give as much as you wanted to. So God bless and know that I am SO THANKFUL!!!" - Mandy (Also known as EpilepsyBlogger)
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ABOUT:
Mandy Krzywonski, widely known as EpilepsyBlogger, had 2 (two) brain surgeries in February 2013 for her Epilepsy. Mandy had anywhere from 40 to 100+ seizures A DAY, and had Epilepsy all of her life. Mandy was always on 2-3 heavy medications at a time since age 13 (she is now 20) yes none controlled seizures. She also had a VNS implanted, but had no success. In 2012 Mandy's brain literally fried intensely during a seizure, due to electricity in the brain. It damaged her brain's activity along with causing both medication AND the VNS to stop working 100%. Brain surgery was her ONLY option, and over 1/3 of her brain was to be removed.

Mandy's brain surgery was a SUCCESS!!! For the first time in her life, she is seizure-FREE!!! However, she has lost many things due to removal of brain tissue and needs a LOT of therapy and doctor visits for her recovery (3-5 years).

Mandy has issues with:

~ Having lost her ability to READ

~ Short term memory is intensely weak

~ She has lost 35 - 40% VISION. Upper RIGHT quadrant is GONE, and small section in lower LEFT quadrant is gone.

~ Damaged DEPTH PERCEPTION

~ SPEECH THERAPY is needed not only for READING, but also SPEECH and THINKING issues. Ex: Restoring brains ability to save memory, helping sections of the brain COMMUNICATE back and forth, etc.

~ And much more.

Mandy is thankful for no seizures, but truly needs help with her recovery as she has no way to pay for her doctor visits and unfortunately her brain surgery.

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SEE MANDY'S HOSPITAL VISIT & LEARN MORE ABOUT HER:

CLICK HERE to see PICTURES of Mandy in the hospital for her 2 brain surgeries only 3 MONTHS AGO!!! : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.501827656521134.1073741825.412990685404832&type=3

CLICK HERE to see how Mandy's recovery is going: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.511362748900958.1073741830.412990685404832&type=3

Mandy's video before brain surgery: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=514506488586584&set=a.516220988415134.1073741835.412990685404832&type=3&theater

Mandy's video after surgery ~ Part I: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=515009221869644&set=a.516220988415134.1073741835.412990685404832&type=3&theater

HERE'S a link to a blog about the surgery which contains lots of pictures amongst the other hundreds of blogs she was once able to write!!!: http://mandykrzywonski.blogspot.com/2013/03/help-out-mandy.html

Mandy's Facebook Pages:
http://Facebook.com/EpilepsyBlogger
http://Facebook.com/HopeforEpilepsy
http://Facebook.com/EpilepsyALoveStory
http://Facebook.com/EpilepsySuccess