Alana’s Epilepsy Mission

15/04/2026

Do you feel your medically vulnerable child has been given equal opportunities to thrive, without missing out or being treated differently?

15/04/2026

14/04/2026

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is something we need to talk about.

Every year, around 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy are affected.
For those living with uncontrolled seizures, that risk rises dramatically to 1 in 150.

💔 SUDEP is the leading cause of premature death in young adults with epilepsy
💔 It accounts for around 50% of epilepsy-related deaths

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⚠️ Key Risk Factors:

• Frequent tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures
• Uncontrolled or drug-resistant epilepsy
• Early onset & long duration of epilepsy
• Taking multiple anti-seizure medications
• Seizures during sleep (night-time risk)

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🛡️ Reducing the Risk:

• Prioritising seizure control
• Taking medication consistently
• Exploring treatment options with your care team
• Using night-time monitoring devices

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💜 Awareness saves lives.
💜 Conversations matter.
💜 You are not alone.

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13/04/2026

Types of Reflex Epilepsy 💜

Reflex epilepsy is when seizures are triggered by specific stimuli — and for many people, these seizures happen almost every time they encounter that trigger.

Triggers can include:
✨ Flashing or flickering lights
✨ Patterns or visual stimuli
✨ Music or sound
✨ Reading or language processing
✨ Specific movements or tasks

This means everyday environments can become unpredictable and overwhelming.

Raising awareness is so important — because understanding triggers can help improve safety, support, and quality of life.

💜 Together, we raise awareness, support, and hope.
💜 Let’s keep the conversation going.

12/04/2026

Advocating for yourself when you’re living with a chronic illness isn’t always easy 💜

For so many, it comes with fear of not being believed, the exhaustion of constantly explaining, and the emotional weight of feeling like a burden. Sometimes, it’s simply not knowing what to say or ask for.

At Alana’s Epilepsy Mission, we see you. We hear you. And we stand with you. We believe it’s really important to teach and provide environments that encourage our young purple warriors to be confident about themselves.

Your voice matters. Your experiences are valid. And you deserve to be listened to, supported, and understood.

Let’s continue to raise awareness, break down stigma, and empower one another to speak up — even on the days it feels hardest.

💜 You are not alone
💜 You are strong
💜 You deserve to be heard

11/04/2026

💜 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 💜

Alana’s Epilepsy Mission is beyond excited to officially launch our FIRST EVER EVENT in partnership with the Plymouth Epilepsy Support Group.

This is more than just a meet-up… it’s the beginning of a community where our incredible purple warriors can connect, feel understood, and simply enjoy being themselves 💜

📍 Plymouth – Central Park
📅 Saturday 2nd May 2026
⏰ Meet at 2PM (outside the Life Centre)

✨ What’s happening:
🧺 Picnic in the park at 2pm (please bring your own picnic and rug)
🎾 FREE Fun tennis session with a qualified coach at 3PM at the Central Park Tennis Courts
💬 Time to socialise, laugh & build friendships

This event is designed especially for children and young people living with epilepsy to feel supported, included, and empowered 🌟

💌 Want to join us?
Email: alanasepilepsymission@outlook.com
Please include your name, and your child’s name & age

Let’s come together, support one another, and create something truly special 💜

SHARE! SHARE! SHARE! So no young purple warrior misses out 💜

10/04/2026

🌙 Understanding Nocturnal Seizures 🌙

Nocturnal seizures are seizures that happen during sleep or just as someone is waking up — and they often go unnoticed.

At Alana’s Epilepsy Mission, we believe awareness saves lives and supports families 💜

💭 What are nocturnal seizures?
They are commonly linked to conditions such as frontal lobe epilepsy or syndromes like juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

⚠️ Signs to look out for:
• Waking up exhausted or with severe headaches
• Confusion upon waking
• Unexplained injuries or a bitten tongue
• Bedwetting during sleep
• Waking up on the floor
• Sudden night-time movements, shouting, or thrashing

🧠 Types can include:
• Frontal lobe seizures (often sudden, repetitive movements)
• Tonic-clonic seizures (stiffening and jerking of the body)
• Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (jerking movements after waking)
• Childhood epilepsies affecting sleep

🔍 Diagnosis & Support:
Diagnosis is often made through EEG monitoring and sleep studies.

🛏️ Safety matters:
Simple steps can make a big difference:
• Use a low bed
• Keep the sleep area safe and clear
• Consider monitoring devices
• Seek medical advice and support

💜 No one should feel alone navigating epilepsy — especially when seizures happen in silence during the night.

✨ By raising awareness, we can help families recognise the signs, stay safe, and feel supported.

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10/04/2026

✨ The Power of Honey for Neurological Wellbeing ✨

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of visiting Black Dog Honey Bees Ltd 🐝, based here in Plymouth, who produce exceptional local honey from hives located across Devon. 🍯

It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about their work, the importance of bees, and the care that goes into producing such high-quality, natural products.

Supporting local, sustainable businesses is something we truly value 💜

Did you know something as natural as honey can support brain health? 🍯💜

Honey isn’t just a sweet treat — it’s packed with properties that may benefit neurological wellbeing:

🧠 Rich in antioxidants
Honey contains powerful antioxidants that help protect brain cells from damage caused by oxidative stress.

⚡ Supports brain function
Natural sugars in honey provide a steady source of energy for the brain, helping with focus and mental clarity.

🌿 Anti-inflammatory benefits
Inflammation can impact neurological health — honey has natural anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce this.

😴 Promotes better sleep
A small amount of honey before bed can support restful sleep, which is essential for brain health and recovery.

💜 Holistic support matters
While honey is not a treatment for epilepsy or seizure disorders, small lifestyle choices like nutrition can play a role in overall wellbeing.

At Alana’s Epilepsy Mission, we believe in raising awareness not just about seizures — but about supporting the whole person 🌿

✨ Alana is so excited to be incorporating Black Dog Honey Bees beautiful bee-produced products into her diet 🍯💜

We’d love for you to follow along on her journey as she focuses on supporting her wellbeing and recovery ❤️‍🩹

✨ Small steps. Big impact. Always learning. Always supporting.

PurpleWarriors WellbeingMatters NaturalSupport

10/04/2026

We had a great session on Wednesday with another really positive turnout 💜

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Derek Fox, who has been an active member of our support group since we first launched in 2019 and is now an active member of the Let’s talk- Mental Health Peer Support💚

Derek joined us to talk about and share the Facebook group he is part of, where he is also an active member of the admin team. He spoke so openly about the importance of having someone to talk to when you’re struggling, and the value of peer support. It was a really powerful and important conversation, and we’re so grateful for his time, knowledge, and continued support. Some tips to support mental health further down the post 💚

We also had a really positive chat about future plans – including building more support for our community and with the help and of Katie, our new Child Welfare and EDI Lead, developing work around educating schools across Plymouth. This will linked in and supported by Alana’s Epilepsy Mission,, helping us to raise awareness, improve understanding, and better support children and young people with epilepsy and seizure disorders.

💚 Looking after your mental health – some simple but powerful tips:

- Talk to someone you trust – you don’t have to go through things alone
- Get outside and spend time in nature 🌿
- Stay active – even gentle exercise can make a big difference
- Try to eat a balanced, nourishing diet
- Be creative – art, music, writing, anything that helps you express yourself
- Prioritise sleep and rest where you can
- Practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques
- Set small, manageable goals each day
- Limit things that increase stress where possible
- Be kind to yourself – it's ok to not be ok.

Reaching out is so important, but so is taking small steps to support your own wellbeing alongside the right guidance and support 💜

We’ll see you all at our next meet-up on Wednesday 13th May, at the usual spot – Plymouth Unitarians 12pm–2pm.

We’re really pleased to have Sara, our epilepsy nurse, joining us to deliver a session on specialist epilepsy first aid – one not to miss!

See you there 💜

09/04/2026

💜 DID YOU KNOW? 💜

More people are living with epilepsy than multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, or Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

In the UK alone, over 630,000 people have epilepsy.

In comparison:
• 150,000 people live with MS
• 166,000 people live with Parkinson’s
• Over 400,000 people live with ME

Epilepsy is more common than many realise — yet awareness and understanding still lag behind.

At Alana’s Epilepsy Mission, we are committed to changing that.
Together, we raise awareness, share lived experiences, and support our incredible purple warriors. 💜

08/04/2026

Sometimes in the middle of hospital appointments, seizures, uncertainty, and the everyday challenges of epilepsy… we forget to pause 💜

At Alana’s Epilepsy Mission, we know how overwhelming life can feel. But today, this is your gentle reminder to take a moment to breathe. To slow down. To be present.

Even in the hardest moments, there is still love. There is still strength. There are still small, beautiful moments that remind us just how blessed we are ✨

Whether it’s a smile after a tough day, a moment of calm, or simply being together — these are the moments that matter most.

To our families, our purple warriors, and our community… you are stronger than you know 💜

Take a breath. You’re doing amazing.

Breathe StrongerTogether