Melek & Nocturnal Seizures

An epilepsy diagnosis can change everything, but it can also reveal strength and determination. Melek shares how he adapted to life with nocturnal seizures, found stability through treatment, and continues chasing his dream career in sports reporting. His message is clear: epilepsy brings challenges, but it does not define your future.

When were you diagnosed?

I was diagnosed with epilepsy on December 30, 2019. I was over at a friend's house. I remember waking up awfully early, and I went back to sleep. The next time I woke up, I was in the back of an ambulance, and the paramedic told me I had a seizure. From there, the doctors told me my diagnosis, and it was life-changing.

New diagnosis of epilepsy? Read our introduction to the condition

What type of epilepsy do you have?

I have nocturnal seizures, which happen in my sleep. Living with it has its challenges. My memory gets flustered at times, migraines happen a lot more than usual, and any head injury or pain is taken very seriously.

I kind of know when I've had a seizure, especially if I wake up with a migraine and my tongue is swollen from biting down on it. It shakes me up when it happens, but I feel okay knowing that I wasn't hurt badly enough to stay down.

Have your seizures changed over time?

It took a while to find the right medication, but things have improved a lot. I’m grateful to say I haven’t had a seizure in almost four years. 

Read more: Overview of 7 most common anti-seizure medications

What has your experience with physicians been like?

The healthcare system hasn’t been the biggest challenge for me. My doctors made sure treatment was affordable for me and my family, which meant a lot when we were still trying to understand my diagnosis.

What inspired your career in sports media?

What drew me to my career and passion is the overall passion people have for sports, and telling a story that brings a community together. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee, so I understand the impact the Memphis Grizzlies have on our community.

I've been a sports fan since I was six years old. When cartoons weren't on TV, I would flip it to ESPN.

My current goal is to continue my career in sports and become a reporter for a company. From there, take things further and work at some of the biggest events like the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals.

Have you faced challenges at work because of epilepsy?

All the time. There have been times that I have had to miss work because migraines were horrible to deal with, and my job consists of me looking at multiple screens for eight hours a day.

Luckily, one of my co-workers put me on to the idea of blue light glasses, and it has helped tremendously. I've also created a better diet for myself to stay more alert so my vision would be at its peak.

I've also taken the initiative to educate my co-workers on the signs to look out for with a person living with epilepsy. They've made me feel more comfortable that if something were to happen to me, they now know what to do to keep me safe.

Learn more: Seizure first aid

What advice would you give someone newly diagnosed?

Please, take the time to do your research. It can truly help you and also educate others who may not fully understand epilepsy. I know a diagnosis can feel overwhelming at first - I felt the same way when I was diagnosed. But after learning more about it, I realized that so many successful people are living full lives with epilepsy.

Get inspired: 14 celebrities with epilepsy

Take the necessary actions to treat it, because it can get better over time. 

A lot of people - myself included - eventually reach a point where living with epilepsy becomes manageable and part of our everyday life. In many ways, it comes down to how much power you allow it to have over your life. Epilepsy may require adjustments, but it does not have to stop you from living fully. You can still have a fun life, but prioritize your mind and body, do the research to see what can help you, and take the initiative to educate yourself and others.

Epilepsy may be a disability, but you have the ability to work with it and possibly inspire others living with it.

Share your story

If you would like to share your epilepsy story with our team, contact us on contact@epsyhealth.com.