THE STUEWE FAMILY & NATIONAL EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH
NOVEMBER 6, 2015
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Jen's Editing Note: Each week we get to know members of our community with #FridayFeatures.
This week, a family I'm getting to know for the first time. Jason Stuewe is the Athletic Director at Estrella Foothills High School. They have two adorable children. And their son, Teegan, is living with Epilepsy. Liz tells us, "It is such a prominent disease yet largely not talked about." November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month and we thank the Stuewes for reaching out to us to share their inspiring story. At the end of the Q&A, you can learn more Epilepsy. |
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Q. Please tell me where you're from and how you decided on Estrella.
A. We are originally from Minnesota. We moved to Arizona in 2001 initially to Yuma. We moved to Buckeye in 2003 and then to Estrella in 2009. We moved to Estrella for the amenities with the lakes, trails and water park since our kids were getting older at that point and those were very important to us. Q. Can you tell me a little bit about your family?
A. Jason has worked for BUHSD since 2003 originally as a math teacher and coaching various sports at Buckeye high school, he then moved over to Youngker High School as the head football coach and math department chair, then working in administration first at Youngker High School and now at Estrella Foothills High School. Liz is an Occupational Therapist specializing in pediatrics currently working at Phoenix Elementary School District. Peyton is 10 years old and is a 5th grader and Teegan is 7 years old and is a 2nd grader. They both are active in Estrella Youth Sports. |
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Q. Your husband is the Athletic Director at Estrella Foothills High School. I've heard wonderful things about him. What is his philosophy with the sports programs here?
A. Sports Philosophy: Quality youth programs are a vital part of a strong community. When ran correctly, the youth involved in these programs learn valuable lessons that can be applied to many facets of their lives. The participants involved in these programs are better prepared for high school and statistically increase their chances of being successful not only in activities and athletics but also in academics. It is exciting to see an increasing number of quality programs for our youth in our community. This is helping to make our community stronger by promoting the development of successful youth. |
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It is exciting to see an increasing number of quality programs for our youth in our community. This is helping to make our community stronger by promoting the development of successful youth.
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Q. You reached out to us as November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. Can you please tell us more about your child's experience with Epilepsy?
A. Teegan’s medical issues began in 2013 when he developed hydrocephalus (extra fluid on the brain) and required neurosurgery. Three months later he had his first seizure. He has had numerous hospitalizations for his seizures that could not be brought under control at home. He currently takes multiple medications to help control his seizures. Unfortunately it can be difficult finding that line between having seizure control without having significant side effects from medications. November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. How to you #DareTo Be Seizure Smart? |
Q. What is something you would want other families to know about your experience and help the people in your life #DareTo Be Seizure Smart?
A. November is Epilepsy awareness month. As a family we want don’t ever want people to feel sorry for us, our goal has become to help make others more aware of Epilepsy and just how many children and people are impacted by it. We want to help create awareness as to the reality of how many people are impacted by the disease process. 1 in 26 Americans will have a seizure in their lifetime. Young people who have had the disease for an extended period, and are not well controlled, are at risk for Sudden Unexpected Death events where they die from seizures in their sleep with no other known cause of death found. It is such a prominent disease yet largely not talked about, or research funded well to try to figure out why epilepsy happens or how to prevent/stop seizures. We are amazingly grateful to Coach Jerry Kill who just recently had to resign from the University of Minnesota, because of his Epilepsy, for being such a high profile and amazing advocate for those with Epilepsy. We also want to raise awareness that there are many different types of seizures. They can range from what is typically envisioned with a grand mal seizures to mild seizures where people stare off into space for a period of time. I think it is important to educate kids about epilepsy, especially if they have another student in their class or on a sports team about what epilepsy is. Often kids with epilepsy end up being excluded and isolated because they are different and they get teased for their seizures and how they impacted by them. If you ever witness someone having a seizure the best thing to do is get them into a safe position, generally on their side and just try to keep them safe. Don’t try to hold them down or put anything in their mouth, this can only make things worse. If the seizure does not end within a few minutes the best course of action is to always call 911.
A. November is Epilepsy awareness month. As a family we want don’t ever want people to feel sorry for us, our goal has become to help make others more aware of Epilepsy and just how many children and people are impacted by it. We want to help create awareness as to the reality of how many people are impacted by the disease process. 1 in 26 Americans will have a seizure in their lifetime. Young people who have had the disease for an extended period, and are not well controlled, are at risk for Sudden Unexpected Death events where they die from seizures in their sleep with no other known cause of death found. It is such a prominent disease yet largely not talked about, or research funded well to try to figure out why epilepsy happens or how to prevent/stop seizures. We are amazingly grateful to Coach Jerry Kill who just recently had to resign from the University of Minnesota, because of his Epilepsy, for being such a high profile and amazing advocate for those with Epilepsy. We also want to raise awareness that there are many different types of seizures. They can range from what is typically envisioned with a grand mal seizures to mild seizures where people stare off into space for a period of time. I think it is important to educate kids about epilepsy, especially if they have another student in their class or on a sports team about what epilepsy is. Often kids with epilepsy end up being excluded and isolated because they are different and they get teased for their seizures and how they impacted by them. If you ever witness someone having a seizure the best thing to do is get them into a safe position, generally on their side and just try to keep them safe. Don’t try to hold them down or put anything in their mouth, this can only make things worse. If the seizure does not end within a few minutes the best course of action is to always call 911.
As a family we want don’t ever want people to feel sorry for us, our goal has become to help make others more aware of Epilepsy and just how many children and people are impacted by it.
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Q. Have you found good medical care in Arizona?
A. We have been very fortunate to have great medical care at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Teegan is now seen be an epileptologist (neurologist who specializes in epilepsy) at Barrow’s Neurological Institute at PCH. He has been admitted multiple times to the PEMU unit (Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit) where they have state of the art monitoring equipment. He has required neurosurgery and PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) stays as well. The nurses and doctors who work at Phoenix Children’s are the best for a reason. All the things they do to help make the hospital less traumatic for children is beyond amazing. He has had multiple radiological scans completed, including PET scans, MRI, and CT scans. The ER/trauma staff are truly incredible when we have been brought in by ambulance. We have seen numerous other specialists at PCH to try to help both figure out why Teegan has epilepsy and how to best treat it. |
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Q. What do you like to do in your spare time?
A. In our spare time we love to travel. California is our trip of choice, because we can drive it, which is safest currently. Plus we truly LOVE the beach. We also love to hike, bike, golf, swim basically be outdoors. We love sports and have become huge Arizona sports fans. We love the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Coyotes. The kids are active in EYS. Peyton dances at Desert West Dance academy. Teegan also does karate. Q. What is your advice for new families moving to Estrella?
A. Our advice for new families to Estrella is to get involved in activities. That helps so much to meet new people in the neighborhood. Also get outside and enjoy all the amenities from the lakes, to the trails, to FINS, the water park, the parks, the list goes on and on! Going to community events is also such a great way to get to know your neighborhood. |
Q. What is something you would like to see in Estrella over the next 10 years?
A. Something we need in the future: a restaurant with a wine bar/microbrew type feel, greater variety of food options would be amazing! A small hardware store would be super cool too, sometimes when you just need something small it is such a pain to run down the hill! ☺
A. Something we need in the future: a restaurant with a wine bar/microbrew type feel, greater variety of food options would be amazing! A small hardware store would be super cool too, sometimes when you just need something small it is such a pain to run down the hill! ☺
NATIONAL EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH
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The Epilepsy Foundation is here to help people living with seizures dare to live to their fullest potential. Our mission is to stop seizures and SUDEP, find a cure, and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy through efforts including education, advocacy, and research to accelerate ideas into therapies.
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