2005 Kids Speak Up! Participant Biography

Jessica Moran

Age: 12
Grade: 7
Greenwood, Indiana

Jessica is a congenial, happy-go-lucky girl who loves to run. Diagnosed with epilepsy at age 7, she has had difficulty finding the right combination of medications to control her seizures. The lack of seizure control has meant that Jessica has missed a lot of days at school and had to give up the one thing she loves the most – playing tennis.

To control her seizures, Jessica underwent Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) therapy in June 2003. The VNS treatment gave Jessica the jumpstart she needed to participate in physical activities and attend school regularly.

Today, Jessica is a patient ambassador for Cyberonics, the manufacturers of the VNS implant. This year, she is participating in the 2005 Kids Speak Up! program to advocate for people who have uncontrollable seizures. She feels that if advanced medical options were readily available, more people would take advantage of the opportunity to lead seizure-free lives.

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