Mighty Member since December 2016
Abby Gustus Alford, author of Seize the Day, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 14. After some tough years, she went on to graduate with two college degrees and her Master’s in Journalism. She started working professionally in St. Louis then moved to Texas. Since moving to Houston, Abby has been very involved in epilepsy awareness and advocacy. She currently serves as a Transition Program mentor for the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas. In addition to her work with the Epilepsy Foundation, Abby has been quoted in the Enlighten: Action for Epilepsy 10th anniversary coffee table book and is a contributing blogger to the Living Well with Epilepsy website. Abby’s intimate, first-hand knowledge of the challenges that come with successfully coping with a diagnosis of epilepsy offers a unique perspective for both parents and teens. She has found through her volunteer work with the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas having someone to talk to about real life experiences, beyond the medical community, is necessary and helpful. Her network within the epilepsy community is continuously growing as she spreads her message of hope and works with people to assure them that they too can lead happy, healthy lives with epilepsy. Seize the Day was written to encourage teens and adults to live the life they have always dreamed of, with an understanding of the emotional and physical struggles one with epilepsy and their families encounter. Her success in her marketing career brought her to Texas, where she now works as the Global Communications Manager for a commercial real estate firm and lives a happy and healthy life with her husband, Evan, and their pride and joy puppies, Huey and Teddy.