Kimberly Harding - A Consumer's Perspective: Life Happened Another Way

Posted November 27, 2024

Life Happened Another Way
Kimberly Harding, Consumer Reviewer for the Epilepsy Research Program

I became involved in the CDMRP in, I believe it was, 2016. Everyone that I've met working with the CDMRP, to have that purpose, this particular work has been such an incredibly profound—it has given me that, that purpose. We've always been just overly, like, a super athletic family, loved every kind of sports. My husband played soccer when he was in the Navy in Spain.

My kids all played soccer at, like, in college. And I was snowboarding when we lived in Maine. And when I came off the lift, I just hit the ice and the back of my head, and it was kind of like hitting cement. I took it easy that weekend. And that was on a Saturday. My first seizure ever was on a Monday.

I used to live with so much guilt, and just regret, you know? I just had this idea for my, for my life, as to what it was going to look like. And then hitting my head, you know, this post-traumatic epilepsy, you know, it really was like a switch was flipped. And then, you know, life happens another way.

And now, I just, I live with gratitude. But it took me a really long time to get here. I get excited reviewing every application that comes across, but I really get excited about the ones that seem like they can be applied immediately to, especially, our troops that are living with PTE. This is incredible that there are people out there that really care, and they make this their life's work. And just with all sincerity from my heart, is that, just thank you to the CDMRP.