Julia and I are running to Protect People with Epilepsy

On March 11, 2026, our lives changed in an instant. Just after stepping out for a run, I received an unexpected call from my wife's workplace. Instead of her voice, a stranger asked "are you Julia's husband?"- and immediately, I knew something was wrong.

Julia suffered a tonic colonic seizure at work and was being transported to the nearest ER for care. She lost several hours of memory from that day. In the weeks that followed, numerous tests and appointments taught us more than we expected: 1 in 100 people will have a seizure at some point, and 3 million US adults live with epilepsy.

Since then, Julia has faced several focal seizures. Adjusting medications and identifying triggers has been a difficult, ongoing process. She is scared and frustrated, but she's also incredibly resistant-refusing to let epilepsy define her. We're learning to do things differently now, and her determination is inspiring.

To help support ongoing research and public awareness, Julia and I are running out first marathon-The Chicago Marathon 2026-as part of Team Danny Did.

We would be honored by a donation to the Danny Did Foundation! Please consider supporting our journey!

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 Foundations 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.