Stewart
Stewart was born in August 1969. He had two sisters and a brother William.
Stewart had his first epileptic seizure when he was four years old. The seizure occurred in a laundrette. Initially his mother didn’t know what was happening and was very frightened.
School was hard for Stewart because of his epilepsy. His seizures made him different to everyone else and he felt very isolated within his peer group. But he had a very supportive family and he was a big fan of Arsenal Football Club.
Talking about his epilepsy did not come easy to Stewart. He joined the Army and did not disclose his epilepsy. He also married. The seizures returned and he was medically discharged from the Army. His marriage also broke down.
Stewart became very depressed. He was struggling with his epilepsy and the fact that he was jobless and estranged from his wife. During a stay in hospital for treatment for his depression he had a huge seizure, during which he broke both of his legs. However he was determined to walk again and this he achieved.
William spoke to his brother Stewart on 21 January. He was at home and doing fine. His mother spoke to him on the following day and again he seemed fine.
On the 23rd the police called to Stewart’s mother’s home. Stewart’s mother thought they were coming to discuss a break in she’d had but they said it was about Stewart. Stewart’s mother asked if Stewart had an accident or was in trouble. They said no. Stewart had been found dead in the flat. It was such a shock.
“Life is not the same without Stewart but we work hard at raising funds for Epilepsy Bereaved in his memory. We also like to be involved in meeting others bereaved by epilepsy to offer support.”
