William Sims

Age: 10
Grade: 4
Market: Dunlap, Tennessee

“My name is Will Sims. I live in Dunlap, Tennessee. I have epilepsy. I would like for people to see what kids go through and I would like kids to understand the disease so they wouldn’t make fun of kids that have epilepsy. It’s so hard to make friends when you have something different than everyone else.”

Will Sims is a courageous and brave lad who was 9 when he was diagnosed with epilepsy and tourettes. A straight-A student, he was suddenly being punished for misbehaving in class and finally had to go to homebound status.

“I wish there was more education for teachers and other people that work at school. My teacher didn’t understand what was wrong with me and treated me bad. She would punish me for daydreaming and not being able to be organized.”

The very words he wrote himself on his Kids Speak Up! application aptly address the reasons programs like this are so very important. It’s ironic that Will’s parent, who are law-enforcement professionals, work to protect and serve, yet cannot get the services they need to aid the one they most wish to help.

“I wish that there were people that would tell the kids at school about this and other diseases that kids get and that they can’t help that they’re different.”