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A Family’s Mission and A Daughter’s
Determination:
Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut Gala to Honor Board Chair
Denise Brower
November 7 Rooted in Hope Gala Features the
Brower’s Story – and Harley-Davidson Motorcycle + Sidecar as
Unique Silent Auction Item
Epilepsy once meant about 20 seizures a day
for young Nikki Brower — and for her mother,
Denise, it was a fight for her daughter’s future that
grew into a commitment to helping other families impacted by
epilepsy. That selfless dedication by Denise Brower, current
chair of the board of the Epilepsy Foundation of
Connecticut (EFCT), will be celebrated at the
Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut’s Rooted in Hope Gala
on Saturday, November 7, at The Boathouse by The Knowlton,
305 Knowlton St. in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The
evening will honor Fairfield resident Denise Brower with a
special EFCT award for her many years of service, and bring
together supporters for a wonderful evening full of food,
music and a silent auction benefiting programs that help
children, adults and families who live in Connecticut,
navigate life with epilepsy.
Tickets are available at
epilepsyct.com
by selecting the Gala under the Events tab.
For Denise and Nikki Brower, both Fairfield
residents, the Rooted in Hope Gala is an opportunity
to turn their family’s experience into support for others –
something both have dedicated their lives to doing.
“For our family, epilepsy is not an abstract
statistic,” noted Denise Brower. “It is a journey we have
lived for more than three decades. Our daughter Nikki’s
story is one example of how this disorder can affect an
entire family, but also how determination, dedicated medical
professionals, and community support can make a
difference.”
In honor of the Rooted in Hope Gala
for the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut, Denise’s husband
Garry is donating a unique and highly sought after standout
item to the Gala’s silent auction: his beautifully
maintained and detailed
2001 Harley-Davidson FLTR Road Glide
motorcycle complete with a sidecar.
The donation offers motorcycle enthusiasts and collectors a
unique way to support EFCT’s work – and anyone can bid on
the auction items even if they are not attending the Gala.
Nikki was originally diagnosed with epilepsy
at age 7, after first experiencing absence seizures, also
known as petit mal seizures. Her parents noticed she would
sometimes stop in the middle of a sentence – before
continuing on as if nothing had happened. She later began
experiencing tonic-clonic, or grand mal, seizures, and her
family pursued medications, dietary treatments and
specialized care. After several years and no real relief
from the seizures, the family turned to neurologists at Yale
to help their young daughter.
“We’ll always remember when Dr. Edward
Novotny at Yale called with exciting news,”
shared Denise. “New technology identified two areas of
Nikki’s brain associated with her seizures, and surgery
might offer a chance at a better quality of life. The
decision to pursue surgery was agonizing. One area was too
close to the part of the brain controlling her right motor
skills to operate on safely. Doctors hoped that treating the
other area might nevertheless reduce her seizures.”
The brain surgery at Yale did dramatically
reduce Nikki’s seizures, but the surgery was tough. The
medical team fought for Nikki’s life. Her surgeon, Dr.
Dennis Spencer, and Dr. Novotny provided care and
dedication that the Brower family will never forget. Nikki
survived, although her recovery took months.
“Garry and I often stayed with Nikki in the
hospital during her recovery,” shared Denise. “Our parents,
Nikki’s grandparents, traveled from Michigan to care for
Nikki’s younger sister. It was a trying time - especially
for us as parents – watching our young daughter struggle and
not knowing if the surgery would help, and then seeing how
the whole situation impacted our youngest daughter as well
as she was growing up. The whole experience underscored how
profoundly epilepsy can affect an entire family.”
Nikki survived the surgery and recovery. She
finished high school and then went on to earn her
undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in elementary
education at Sacred Heart University. Today, she works as a
paraprofessional at a local elementary school in Fairfield,
pursuing her longtime passion of working with children.
Although she continues to experience occasional absence
seizures, of which most would never even know she
experiences, they have not limited her life – and she still
checks in with the team at Yale who have taken such good
care of her throughout the years. To help others, she also
shares her story at epilepsy awareness events and fundraises
for the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut Walks, including
Stamford’s annual Walk each May, and has co-led a Teen
Support group with a former EFCT employee.
“Has epilepsy made my life more complicated?”
shared Nikki. “Yes. Would it have been easier without
seizures? Definitely. Would I change my life? I don’t think
so. I mean, if I could stop the seizures, I would, but I
think I am who I am today because of what I’ve gone through.
The reality is, I have epilepsy, but epilepsy doesn’t have
me.”
For Nikki’s Mom, helping other families with
epilepsy became her calling. After retiring early from a
successful 35 year career, Denise found EFCT when looking
for nonprofits to support in her retirement. She became very
involved with EFCT, saw first-hand how much its small team
accomplished, and joined the board, all while continually
raising funds to keep essential programs available.
Proceeds from this year’s Rooted in Hope
Gala will specifically support education programs,
school advocacy, family support, information and referrals,
support groups and the Epilepsy Foundation’s Camp Courage, a
week-long residential summer camp for children, teens and
young adults impacted by epilepsy. For families managing the
daily challenges of epilepsy, these services provide
practical help and a community of support.
To purchase tickets for the Saturday, Nov.
7, Rooted in Hope Gala, or register for the
silent auction, visit
epilepsyct.com
and select the Gala under Events tab. The Browers’
Harley-Davidson motorcycle and sidecar can be previewed on
the
Gala’s auction website.
For more information, those interested can also call
860-346-1924 x101.
About Epilepsy
According to the
World Health Organization,
epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder worldwide
with no age, racial, social class, national or geographic
boundaries. The
U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
(CDC) estimates that 3.4 million individuals in the United
States are affected by epilepsy. It is the underlying
tendency of the brain to produce seizures which are sudden
abnormal bursts of electrical energy that disrupt brain
functions.
About the Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut
EFCT is an affiliate of the Nationwide
Epilepsy Foundation and is a state-wide, nonprofit
charitable agency dedicated to helping to improve the
quality of life for those affected by epilepsy and their
loved ones. To learn more, visit
epilepsyct.com.
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