My daughter Lauren with Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden

Last night I watched “60 Minutes” with over 100 Washington, D.C. friends and supporters, and told them of our efforts to raise awareness about the impact of epilepsy on our lives and on the lives of millions of others, and of the desperate need for more research.

We gathered at Connie Milstein’s lovely home, under a packed white tent in her garden and in assorted sitting rooms. It was fantastic to see so many friends and supporters: Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden were able to stop by, as well as Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, National Security Advisor General Jim Jones, and Rahm Emanuel, who has been a dear friend since long ago.

Lauren, David, and me with Connie Milstein, who graciously hosted our D.C. "60 Minutes" viewing party

We enjoyed the company of some of the brightest minds in medicine and public health, who took time out to join our call for more research: Dr. Frances Jensen, our science advisor (you saw her in the “60 Minutes” segment); Dr. Francis Collins, NIH Director; Dr. Story Landis, Director of NINDS; Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS; and Brigadier General Loree Sutton, from Walter Reed Hospital.

There was little political talk, but no shortage of Washington opinion leaders: Sally Quinn, whose son Quinn has battled seizures; Andrea Mitchell and Alan Greenspan; uber-lawyer Bob Bennett; Greta Van Susteren and John Coale; as well as George Stephanopolous.

I was so proud of my daughter Lauren last night: She was the star of the D.C. viewing party and of “60 Minutes.” She has come forward and shared her story. It is her story and the courageous stories from other CURE families that will help change epilepsy from a secret shame to a disease that has the research dollars it deserves.

Watching "60 Minutes" with our D.C. friends, including NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins

Sharing so much of our personal lives in such a public way is not easy, and comes at some cost. What makes it feel good and right though is knowing how many of you out there share similar stories of pain and loss, and how many of you wake up every day wondering when the next seizure will strike. Last night, I got so much strength by knowing how many of you were gathered at your own viewing parties or in your own living rooms around the country, sharing my feeling that at last, epilepsy is receiving some of the long overdue attention it deserves.

Together we can do more than make a difference; we can change the future.

I hope you got a chance to watch the program, but if you missed it, you can watch it on our website. We’ll be posting comments and photos from viewing parties around the country. Please share yours by emailing them to danielle@cureepilepsy.org.