Healthy Minds: Story Time School On The Hill
School on the Hill
This is a beautiful story of Jane and Teacher Angel on their journey with epilepsy and how they were able to cope up with their condition and live a normal life with the support of family and friends.
Big Dipper School sat on a hill with a great view of the town but with one big problem: wild grass had grown and spread all over the school yard!
Everyone in school planted flowers and trees all around but they dried up quickly. The clouds above were always dark making everything look gloomy. Parents would keep on pulling out the grass only to see them return the very next day!
One day, Miss Angel, the new principal arrived. She is kind and beautiful just like an angel.
While walking around school, she noticed an empty seat in one of the classrooms.
Miss Angel decided to test Jane’s ability to learn and saw how smart she really was.
She hugged Jane then walked towards the back of the school building
She looked up at the dark clouds, down at the wild grass, and cried. It started to rain and the cold wind blew. She remained still as the raindrops mixed with her tears.
The next day, Miss Angel arrived at the school with an elderly doctor. She gathered everyone together and introduced Dra. Belen.
Dra. Belen is a doctor who treats children with epilepsy. She shared the truth that epilepsy is not an infectious disease. A child with epilepsy can do what other kids can do.
Dra. Belen also told everyone what to do in case Jane suddenly falls during a seizure, when her arms and legs start to shake a lot. It usually lasts for a couple of minutes and nobody would be able to wake her up. Everyone who witnesses the seizure must stay calm until it stops.
Somebody needs to protect the head and turn Jane to one side.
Dra. Belen then described how Jane feels during and after a seizure. Jane does not know what is happening so when she wakes up, she is tired and confused. She has to sleep and rest the whole day.
They should also try to keep onlookers away and call her parents so she can rest at home.
Dra. Belen urged everyone to understand epilepsy more. She asked for support, care, and acceptance for Jane.
One day, Jane had another seizure. Everyone who witnessed the episode stayed calm and knew what to do.
The next day she was back in school studying and playing with her classmates. Miss Angel saw everything and smiled. She looked up and watched the dark clouds move away.
Miss Angel thanked Dra. Belen for the change she had brought to Big Dipper School. Dra. Belen also mentored the doctor who gives Jane the medicine to control her seizure.