“You could have a whole other career” (Part 1)

I have some exciting travels coming up soon, and the first begins today. I’m traveling to Tulsa for the Public Health Institute of the Epilepsy Foundation of America. This is one of our major annual conferences, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn and have a reunion with colleagues from all over the country.

Two members of our team are attending. I’ll have the opportunity to speak about the work the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan does through our Here for You Helpline, and my colleague and friend will be talking about the Seizure Recognition and First Aid trainings she has provided to law enforcement and firefighters.

I thought I would share one story that is featured in my presentation. It feels very full circle in my life, and I’m very grateful.

This is me in 2018. This is the year I learned that narwhals are real (I thought they were mythical!) That year, people began to give me a lot of narwhal merch.

I do not yet work for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. But I do decide to call the Here for You Helpline. I have a question.

This is me in 1988. I am in kindergarten. I don’t even know what narwhals are. And this is the year that I am diagnosed with epilepsy.

I went through testing and was in a neurologist’s office when he diagnosed me. It’s amazing that I heard and remembered his terminology, because I carried those words with me for many years, even though I didn’t know what they meant. I won’t see any doctors or specialists about this for years to come, and I won’t have any epilepsy education — age-appropriate or otherwise.

Six years from now, the seizures will eventually fade. But as you might imagine, I had many questions for a long time.

I get in contact with Russ. He holds my future job, but I don’t know that yet. I get to ask my questions. This leads to answers, information, and ultimately, community. It also leads to an appointment with a specialist to ask more questions. This appointment felt sacred to me.

This is me in 2019. I got a new job! This is the year I start working 10 hours a week, taking calls on that very Here for You Helpline. I’m discovering that lives are changed on both sides of the line.

In 2026, I’m starting my eighth year, and as I share this with you, I serve as a mission strategist for our organization. I’m the Sr. Director of Programs and Community Care. Our Program Team leads conferences, support groups, Seizure Recognition and First Aid trainings, self-management programs, and more. I work with grant consultants to develop three grant proposals per month, and I serve as staff liaison to our Professional Advisory Committee, which includes more than 50 epileptologists, neurologists, EEG techs, and psychotherapists.

This has been one of the biggest adventures of my life. It has also been one of the best learning environments of my life. I started with some experience in providing individualized care (pastoral background) and forming new communities. I’ve continued to deepen those kinds of work, as they continue to teach me. Everything else, I have newly learned because I’ve had the best team imaginable as my teachers.

Full circle.

I showed up because I had a question.

I stayed because I found a community.

—Renee Roederer