Gabrielle Domka

Age: 11
Grade: 6
Market: Cincinnati, Ohio

Gabrielle Domka is a vibrant and tenacious girl who is more frustrated with the limitations epilepsy imposes on her life—such as needing supervision to swim or go up and down stairs—than she is with the long and difficult struggle she has had to battle her atonic (drop-attack) seizures.

She injured her right hand during one drop attack and needs extra help from her parents due to the side effects of some of her medications. Despite her challenges, she still supports her local Epilepsy Foundation affiliate with her family, and participates in such events as the Emerald Miles Run/Walk.

“Although I struggle and epilepsy is difficult to live with,” Gabrielle said, “I would tell other kids who are just starting to have seizures to remember that even though you have epilepsy, you don’t need to feel different.”