hiya bucks in Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Marlow, Wycombe, Wooburn October 2014 | Page 28

5 minutes with
... Jasmine Smith
Bucks resident Jasmine was asked to leave
university due to her ‘distressing’ Epilepsy-induced
seizures. It is now her mission to raise awareness of
the long-term condition.

Where does your story begin?
At 17, when I was studying full-time to be a
dancer. I had just passed my driving test, and
was living a life like any other teenager, when
I started to speak ‘nonsense’ (for example
speaking of my ‘brother’, when I actually
only have a younger sister). It continued for
a few weeks, and I also began to pass out.
After a while I went to my GP who referred
,
me to a neurologist. They arranged for me
to have an MRI brain scan, from which they
found an epidermoid brain tumour the size
of a tangerine. I was then diagnosed with
Epilepsy.
How did the seizures affect your
everyday life?
I was dismissed from five jobs and asked
to leave university (Middlesex) due to the
seizures being too ‘distressing’ and ‘unsafe’
for fellow students and the public. I became
very determined to raise awareness of what
Epilepsy actually is, how to deal with it, and
to change the way it is seen within the public
eye.
What happened next?
The seizures became more frequent, lasting
longer, and I also began to have generalised
tonic clonic seizures. After two years of
hospital visits and tests, I found a surgeon
that agreed to operate and remove the
tumour. I underwent a 13 hour operation
at The National Hospital for neurology and
neurosurgery in June 2011, followed by a
4 hour operation in July 2011 to remove an
infected cyst that grew in the month between.
What are you doing now?
I have since started training to become an
Epilepsy Specialist Nurse at Bucks New
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University. I also work for the Epilepsy
Society, where I give lots of training and talks
to professionals, schools, pharmaceutical
companies, magazines, newspapers, TV and
radio stations about what it is like to live with
Epilepsy.
What are your biggest achievements in
fundraising?
I began Jasmine Day, an awareness/
fundraising day. I also did a skydive and
evening events, in total raising nearly
£10,000. More recently, in Boston MA, I had
a photoshoot for a new campaign, where I
will be the face of Chamilia jewellery line in
the UK (owned by Swarovski), which will also
raise awareness of Epilepsy.
Who do you lean on for support?
I have a partner of just over a year, who I
met at work during Epilepsy awareness
training. We were learning the first aid of a
convulsive seizure, when I actually had a
generalised tonic seizure and gave them a
demonstration! He helped me, and we didn’t
meet again until over a year later. Now we
live together, and he really is wonderful with
his support. There is lots to speak about
regarding epilepsy and how it can affect
relationships... I could go on forever!
Do you have a message for readers?
The charity I work for (Epilepsy Society) is
an amazing source of information. We have
lots of medical facts, helplines and support
groups available for people at all ages and
stages in their epilepsy.
www.epilepsysociety.org.uk
The Epilepsy Society, Chesham Lane,
Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, SL9 0RJ
Lucy Jane Gonzalez

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