Product Review

At the age of 14, Abby Gustus Alford was diagnosed with epilepsy. After some tough years, she went on to graduate with two college degrees and her Master’s in Journalism. She started working professionally and moved to Texas where she met her husband. Since moving to Houston, Abby has been very involved in epilepsy awareness and advocacy. She currently serves as a Transition Program mentor for the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas. In addition to her volunteer work with the Epilepsy Foundation, Abby has been quoted in the Enlighten: Action for Epilepsy 10th anniversary coffee table book and is a contributing blogger to the Living Well with Epilepsy website.

Abby’s intimate, first-hand knowledge of the challenges that come with successfully coping with a diagnosis of epilepsy offers a unique perspective for both parents and teens. She has found through her volunteer work with the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas having someone to talk to about real life experiences, beyond the medical community, is necessary and helpful. Her network within the epilepsy community is continuously growing as she spreads her message of hope and works with people to assure them that they too can lead happy, healthy lives with epilepsy.

Seize the Day was written to encourage teens and adults to live the life they have always dreamed of, with an understanding of the emotional and physical struggles one with epilepsy and their families encounter.

Abby’s strong support system consisting of her mom and dad, and little brother in St. Louis, Missouri, helped her to successfully graduate high school, go on to college and even graduate school, where she was able to pursue her passions. She graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and then went on to Northwestern University in Chicago, Il. where she received her Master’s in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.

After receiving her Master’s in Chicago, Abby returned to St. Louis to be near her family after she was offered a position in Marketing. Her success in her marketing career brought her to Texas, where she now works as the Training and Communications Manager for a global commercial real estate firm and lives a happy and healthy life with her husband, Evan, and their pride and joy puppies, Huey and Teddy.

Seize the Day will give insight to her journey and hope for families finding their way through the many trials and tribulations of the epilepsy journey.