I never thought I’d see a year that has brought so much attention to the disease we are fighting. Cover stories in Parade and Newsweek. Numerous TV and radio programs… and now, we’re eagerly awaiting the airing of 60 Minutes on Sunday, October 25, featuring a segment devoted to epilepsy and seizures.

We can all agree—it’s about time!

Friends, families, and supporters will be gathering in homes around the country for 60 Minutes Viewing Parties. But, we can’t stop there. We must take this energy, band together, and share our stories and our passion with all who will listen!

In this new blog, I’ll report periodically on my meetings with researchers, on Capitol Hill, and, most importantly, with patients and families and friends who are impacted.

Here are a few of the people I have met these last weeks: the grandmother of a four-year old just diagnosed with a degenerative and always fatal form of epilepsy; a gentleman who, until now, had never spoken about his childhood filled with his mother’s seizures; and another who struggled with the public fear that the disease was a sign of demonic possession.

These were all just casual meetings and conversations over only a few days, but I was struck by the willingness and, in some cases, hunger of these people to share their stories. Everywhere I go, I hear from mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends who have been touched by epilepsy. Millions of Americans are struggling under the weight of continued seizures and debilitating treatment side effects.

The answers are within our grasp—if we come together as a community, continue to tell our stories, make our voices heard and, together, bring epilepsy out of the shadows. Our voices raised together—sharing our struggles, losses, and conquests—is the way we will win out over this disease.

Please help us show the world that we will not accept the status quo any longer; we deserve answers and together we will get them. This week, we are launching a new way to make a difference—our Every Dollar Counts/Every Seizure Matters campaign. Over the next two and a half months, our goal is to raise $250,000 to fund a special Friends for a Cure research grant. Please pledge your financial support at whatever level is comfortable for you. Every single dollar gets us closer to our goal—no seizures, no side effects, and ultimately the eradication of this devastating disease.

Together, our voices are louder, we will be heard, and we will make a difference! Please join this incredible community of people who truly care, as we work together for a cure.

Click here to donate to Every Dollar Counts/Every Seizure Matters. Thank you for your support!