Marika’s Story

Marika Lopez experienced her first absence seizure at 18 months old and was diagnosed with epilepsy by the age of 3. Throughout her early education, she faced challenges that set her apart from her peers, including the need for daily medication.

In grade 8, Marika chose to educate her friends about her seizures and the appropriate first aid response. Unfortunately, instead of support, she was met with social isolation. That summer, her absence seizures progressed into tonic-clonic seizures, and by grade 10, she began experiencing focal aware seizures. When she required medical assistance at school, first responders were unprepared to manage her condition effectively, leaving her to rely on her parents, teachers, and librarians for support.

She has now been seizure-free for six years. In September 2018, motivated by the ongoing misconceptions and stigma surrounding epilepsy, she committed herself to raising awareness and promoting education about the condition.

Marika graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminology from KPU, where she was also a research assistant. She served as a member of the Youth Advisory Committee for the B.C. Employment Strategy for Youth with Disabilities, contributing to the successful launch of the CanWork BC Tool.

Marika currently volunteers for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul B.C. and Yukon Region. She is the proud recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Inclusion, Democracy & Reconciliation. She remains an active epilepsy advocate by spreading awareness through her social media accounts and by being the ESEBC’s Youth Advocate.