As I made my way through the cereal aisle, a wave of dizziness washed over me. The room started spinning, and I reached out to grab onto one of the stock shelves for support. I had a basket full of groceries, and I was determined to push through and finish my shopping.
“Only a few more items,” I whispered to myself. “You got this.”
But, in reality, I didn’t. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor, surrounded by concerned onlookers. I had just experienced a seizure in the middle of my local supermarket. The whole situation was overwhelming and unexpected, to say the least.
Having epilepsy has been a part of my life for over a decade now. I was first diagnosed in my 20s after experiencing my initial seizure during a layover at the airport. Since then, I’ve had a few more seizures, all of which have occurred in public places. The unpredictability of when and where they will happen is always looming in the back of my mind.
Managing epilepsy comes with its challenges. I try to avoid triggers like stress, lack of sleep, and alcohol, but sometimes the seizures still occur. Each episode leaves me feeling confused, achy, and nauseous in the aftermath.
After my seizure at the supermarket, I was hesitant to return. The fear of another episode in a public place was daunting. However, a week later, I mustered up the courage to go back. To my surprise, the staff greeted me with open arms.
The kindness and support I received from the supermarket staff made a world of difference. From the clerk who gave me a blanket to the pharmacist who offered a warm smile, their compassionate gestures made navigating life with epilepsy a little easier.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Living with a hidden disability like epilepsy can be isolating and filled with uncertainty. But, the small acts of kindness from strangers served as a reminder of the goodness in the world. It showed me that even in challenging situations, there are people who are willing to offer a helping hand and a comforting smile.
As I reflect on my experience, I am grateful for the compassion and understanding shown to me by the supermarket staff. Their gestures may have seemed small, but they had a profound impact on me during a vulnerable moment. It serves as a reminder that a little kindness goes a long way, especially for those navigating the world with health issues or hidden disabilities.
If you have a personal story that can bring understanding or help others, we want to hear from you. Share your story with us at ottawafirstperson@cbc.ca.
