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. Outside of my family, I only confided in my best friend, who always had my back. He never broke my trust and ensured my safety whenever we were together.
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. We went everywhere—from Orange County to L.A., the Inland Empire to San Diego—seeking answers, yet epilepsy remained unpredictable and relentless.
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, we took a family trip to California. During the flight, she had a seizure—the most terrifying experience of my life. 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.
However, by 2006, my seizures resurfaced. A breakthrough seizure at work led to increased medication, followed by further adjustments as my seizures persisted. My mom flew from California to New Jersey to be with me during Thanksgiving—our first holiday together at Boston Market. Things stabilized temporarily, but the worst was yet to come.
The Seizure That Changed Everything (January 2007)
In January 2007, I was outside a church in New Jersey, picking up my daughter for an overnight stay. Snow blanketed the ground as I started my truck to warm it up. Then, without warning, I collapsed into a massive tonic-clonic seizure. As always, I fell hard—landing on my knees and face. The impact left me with three permanent scars, severe bruising, and sprains. 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 after much deliberation, my family and I decided that it was best for me to move back to California. Within two weeks, I packed up my life, said goodbye to my daughter, and relocated home. I have not driven since 2007.
The reality of this transition was crushing. I had always been independent and took pride in providing for myself, but now my career was gone, and with it, the structure and purpose that work had given me. The idea of losing my ability to support myself was overwhelming.
Amidst the uncertainty, I reached out to an old friend I had worked with years before. She had since become a manager at the company where we had once worked together, and upon learning about my situation, she graciously offered me a temporary position. It was meant to be a short-term opportunity to help me get back on my feet, and for that, I was incredibly grateful. Returning to work gave me a sense of purpose, a small glimpse of normalcy in a time of great upheaval. Despite my health struggles, I pushed myself to show up and give it my all.
However, as time went on, my seizures remained uncontrolled, and what was intended to be a brief return to the workforce stretched longer than expected. I found myself in and out of work, frequently placed on short-term and long-term disability. Each time I tried to return, another seizure or medical complication would pull me away. I clung to the hope that I could regain stability, but 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. The weight of this reality was devastating. The transition from a working professional to someone who relied on disability benefits was humbling and difficult to accept.
Adding to the difficulty, my doctor advised that living alone was no longer a safe option due to the unpredictability of my seizures. Recognizing the challenges I faced, my parents graciously moved me into their home. While I was grateful for their support, the adjustment was emotionally challenging. My world felt smaller, and I had to come to terms with the loss of my independence. The once-simple things—running errands, going for a drive, even being alone—were now risks I had to carefully navigate.
During this time, I struggled deeply with feelings of frustration and helplessness. The shift from being a working professional to someone who relied on others for daily needs was humbling. Yet, my parents’ unwavering love and support helped me find stability in this new phase of life. 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 was to:
- Raise epilepsy and SUDEP awareness.
- Provide support groups for those affected by seizures.
- Educate communities on proper seizure care and management.
- Offer financial assistance for protective helmets, seizure medications, and alternative treatments.
- Assist with service dog grants and seizure detection devices.
We helped people nationwide, even providing service dog and medical assistance. One of the most rewarding moments was helping a young child receive a seizure detection device that changed their family’s life. However, 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 was on a date at a restaurant when 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, adding further challenges to my journey.
Losing My Service Dog, Allie (2022)
I had always been interested in service dogs, and I trained with Little Angels Service Dogs, 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. Sadly, Allie passed away in 2022. Losing her deepened my reliance on faith. Without her subtle warnings, I had to adjust to life without the security she provided.
Faith, Healing, and Medical Medium Teachings
In 2014, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, a decision that transformed my approach to healing. Later, I began following the teachings of Medical Medium, incorporating detoxification, plant-based nutrition, and natural remedies. These protocols have significantly improved my health and have played a key role in my recovery.
One Bible verse that has guided me through these challenges is:
“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; may His face shine upon you and give you peace. 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:
The content on this site, including blog posts, shared material, and external links, 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. The views expressed in this blog and shared content are those of the respective authors and do not guarantee accuracy, completeness, or reliability.
David Julian is not affiliated with Natural Vitality or NaturalVitality.com. He does not promote, sell, or take a position for or against them.
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