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 five 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 is in her last semester at KPU, where she is a Criminology Honours student and research assistant. She is also a member of the Youth Advisory Committee for the B.C. Employment Strategy for Youth with Disabilities. Marika currently volunteers and works for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul B.C. and Yukon Region. She remains an active epilepsy advocate by spreading awareness through her social media accounts and by being the ESEBC’s Youth Advocate.