Mayo Clinic hosts Epilepsy Awareness Month event

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayo Clinic Jacksonville participated Wednesday night in the first day of Epilepsy Awareness Month.

The neurology department offered what they call an awareness social, and invited me to emcee.

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At the well-attended for the event at Kinne Auditorium on the Mayo campus off San Pablo Road, doctors shared the latest techniques, research and findings.

Some patients explained the treatment they've received.

Many of the patients and their families and friends offered gratitude to the medical staff.

A leader on that staff said the issue is more prevalent than most people know.

"One out of 10 people have a single seizure at some point in their life. One out of 26 has epilepsy," said Dr. William Tatum, with Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. "Over the last seven years, there's been an increase -- 3.4 million Americans have it. That's 50 to 60 million in the world. So it's got a huge presence globally in terms of the health care burden."

I spoke with several patients and their doctors.

It was amazing to hear them share how some of the breakthroughs and techniques have changed their lives.

Over and over I heard them say, "I've got my life back."


About the Author:

Kent Justice co-anchors News4Jax's 5 p.m., 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts weeknights and reports on government and politics. He also hosts "This Week in Jacksonville," Channel 4's hot topics and politics public affairs show each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.