David Julian’s Journey with Epilepsy, Health Challenges, and Faith
My journey with epilepsy began when I was 15 years old during a family trip driving through Blythe, CA. I had my first tonic-clonic seizure while in the car, and at that moment, my family realized that I had likely been living with epilepsy undiagnosed since infancy. The onset of these seizures marked the beginning of a long, complex path filled with physical pain, emotional struggles, and major life changes.
Early Struggles and Loss of Independence
At 16, I was thrilled to receive my driver’s license—a symbol of freedom and independence. However, that excitement was short-lived. After another seizure, my license was suspended for the first time.
By 18, epilepsy had already taken another piece of my independence. I was working fueling planes at John Wayne Airport when I suddenly had a seizure while driving a van. My muscles locked up, my foot jammed on the gas pedal, and I lost control. The van crashed into a private jet and veered toward the runway—directly into the path of a landing DC-9. By some miracle, I survived after crashing into a helicopter and a light pole. That accident ended my career at the airport and led to another driving suspension.
Depression and isolation crept in. I struggled to come to terms with my epilepsy, feeling as though I had lost control over my life. My mother became my biggest advocate, tirelessly researching treatments, specialists, and epilepsy foundations.
Finding Stability, Fatherhood, and a Turning Point
In my twenties and thirties, I built a stable career, eventually becoming a supervisor in a transportation company. For nearly 11 years, my seizures were well-controlled with medication, and I thought I had finally gained control over epilepsy.
Then, when my daughter was three, she had a seizure during a family trip. The pilot made an emergency landing in Ohio, and we spent a week at Children’s Hospital of Ohio. Over the next year, she had two more seizures but thankfully remained seizure-free as she grew older.
By 2006, my seizures resurfaced. A breakthrough seizure at work led to increased medication, followed by further adjustments as my seizures persisted.
The Seizure That Changed Everything (January 2007)
In January 2007, I was outside a church in New Jersey when I collapsed into a massive tonic-clonic seizure. As always, I fell hard. I was rushed to the hospital, where I spent three and a half weeks undergoing extensive testing and medication adjustments.
That seizure didn’t just leave physical scars—it changed my life forever. I lost my job, and my family and I decided that it was best for me to move back to California. I have not driven since 2007. By 2012, it became clear that my condition made maintaining steady employment impossible. After multiple failed attempts to sustain work, I was ultimately declared permanently disabled.
My doctor advised that living alone was no longer a safe option due to the unpredictability of my seizures, and my parents graciously moved me into their home. Over time, I began to see that accepting help wasn’t a sign of weakness—it was an opportunity to focus on my health and healing.
Advocacy and The Epilepsy Connection
Determined to raise awareness, I founded The Epilepsy Connection, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2007. Our mission included raising epilepsy and SUDEP awareness, providing support groups, educating communities on seizure care, and offering financial assistance for protective helmets, seizure medications, service dog grants, and seizure detection devices. We helped people nationwide. Due to emotional exhaustion, I made the difficult decision to close the nonprofit in 2015.
The 2017 Seizure That Led to Brain Injury
In December 2017, I suffered a severe tonic-clonic seizure resulting in status epilepticus. I woke up two and a half days later in the ICU with a brain bleed, a concussion, and spinal injuries that required cervical fusion (C4-C7) and lumbar surgery. I was later diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) and PTSD.
Losing My Service Dog, Allie (2022)
I trained with Little Angels Service Dogs alongside my dog Allie, a yellow Labrador Retriever. She was my best friend and seizure response dog, alerting me before seizures and improving my quality of life immeasurably. Sadly, Allie passed away in 2022.
Faith, Healing, and Nutrition
In 2014, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, a decision that transformed my approach to healing. I have since pursued whole-food, plant-based nutrition and nutritional research, incorporating detoxification protocols and natural remedies that have significantly improved my health. These practices, grounded in my faith, play a key role in my ongoing recovery.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.” (Psalm 28:7)
Living with Purpose and Resilience
Despite epilepsy, brain injury, and chronic pain, I refuse to let these conditions define me. Instead, I focus on faith, advocacy, and natural healing. My journey has been filled with loss, struggle, and pain, but also hope, perseverance, and strength. I share my story not for pity, but to offer hope to those who may be struggling.
If you or someone you love is battling epilepsy, chronic illness, or life’s unexpected challenges, know this: You are not alone. There is always hope, always light, and always a path forward.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. No matter where you are on your journey, may you find strength in faith, comfort in love, and the courage to keep moving forward. You are never alone, for God walks beside you every step of the way.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health regimen, including medications, diet, exercise, or supplementation. David Julian, Natural Vitality Advocate, is not a licensed medical professional. Views expressed are personal and based on lived experience — they do not guarantee specific outcomes. David Julian is not affiliated with Natural Vitality or NaturalVitality.com.
