I am running to Protect Kids with Epilepsy

My twin sister, Emma, began having seizures when we were six months old. Growing up, she dealt with cognitive and motor delays, as well as difficulties with speech. She regularly saw occupational, speech, and physical therapists and my parents had met a plethora of developmental physicians to support her with an army of care. Although her development looked a bit different than mine, we were partners in crime. We played at the park, rode our big wheelers around our yard, and attended school together. She had an infectious laugh and mischievous smile, and otherwise appeared as any typical child did. When we were 7 years old, Emma passed away. Epilepsy had been something that Emma and my family learned to live with, but SUDEP took her far too early. Just like Emma, Danny's chapter on this earth came to a close much too soon.

In running the Chicago Marathon this year, I hope to carry Emma and Danny's spirits with me and spread the word of all that Danny Did does for the Epilepsy community!

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About Danny Did Foundation

Founded by Chicago parents Mike and Mariann Stanton in 2010 after the sudden death of their four-year-old son Danny, the Danny Did Foundation’s primary mission is to prevent deaths caused by seizures. The Foundation advances public awareness of epilepsy and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), strives to improve communication about SUDEP between medical professionals and families affected by seizures, and advocates for the mainstream acceptance and use of seizure detection and prediction devices that may assist in preventing seizure-related deaths.

Epilepsy affects 3.4 million people in the United States and 65 million people worldwide. One in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. But what few people understand, including many people with epilepsy, is that seizures can be fatal. More people die as a result of seizures than from fires and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) combined. In addition to deaths caused by drowning, other accidents, and status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), thousands of deaths occur annually from SUDEP, a fact that is little known and too rarely addressed by medical professionals and in public discussions of epilepsy. Danny Did Foundation takes its name from the last line of Danny Stanton’s obituary, written by his dad: “Please go and enjoy your life. Danny did.” We celebrate Danny’s spirit in every child and family we reach.