In the sunny town of Maplewood, there lived a curious and kind-hearted girl named Ellie. Ellie loved to read mystery books, draw comic strips of superhero hamsters, and build elaborate forts with her best friend, Jayden.
But Ellie had something called epilepsy—a condition that made the electricity in her brain sometimes act a little wild, like a thunderstorm. Most days, Ellie felt just like any other kid. But once in a while, a seizure would happen, and that’s when her brain’s signals got mixed up.
One Monday morning, Ellie stood in front of her class for show-and-tell. “This,” she said, holding up her drawing, “is Sparkle Hamster. She’s a superhero who wears a helmet and zaps bad guys with her tail.”
The class giggled.
Then Ellie added, “And Sparkle Hamster has epilepsy, just like me.”
The room went quiet.
Ellie took a deep breath and said, “That means sometimes my brain gets too much electricity and I have a seizure. It’s not scary if you know what to do.”
Jayden raised his hand. “What should we do if you have one?”
“Great question!” Ellie smiled. “If I fall down or start shaking, don’t try to hold me. Just move stuff away so I don’t bump into anything. And tell an adult right away.”
“What happens after?” another classmate asked.
“I might feel sleepy or confused, and I might need a few minutes to rest,” Ellie said. “But I’ll be okay. And guess what? You can’t catch epilepsy. It’s not like a cold.”
Later that week, during art class, Ellie had a seizure. She dropped her paintbrush and fell to the floor. Jayden quickly remembered what to do: he moved her chair away and called for the teacher.
Ms. Torres knelt beside Ellie, keeping calm until the seizure passed. When Ellie opened her eyes, the class was quiet, but smiling.
“You were brave,” Jayden said, handing her a juice box.
Ellie sipped it and grinned. “Thanks. I’m okay.”
That afternoon, the class made posters about epilepsy awareness. They wrote things like:
- “Stay calm. Get help.”
- “You can’t catch it.”
- “People with epilepsy are awesome.”
Ellie felt proud. She might not have superpowers like Sparkle Hamster, but she had something just as powerful—friends who understood her.
And in Maplewood, that made Ellie a hero, too.
Author’s Note for Kids: Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain. People with epilepsy can live full, exciting lives—just like Ellie! If someone has a seizure, the best thing you can do is stay calm, move objects away, and get an adult. Learning and kindness make a big difference!