UPMC Comprehensive Epilepsy Center Patient Stories

Read our patient stories and learn about the epilepsy treatments we offer.

Note: These patients' treatment and results may not be depictive of all similar cases.

Remy Lalisse: Focal Epilepsy

Remy Lalisse, PhD, was diagnosed with focal epilepsy when he was 16. He dealt with the condition and several medication changes until he moved to Pittsburgh. Unique testing and surgery at the UPMC Comprehensive Epilepsy Center gave Remy what he did not think he could have: seizure freedom.

Read Remy Lalisse's story

Michael Albers: Epilepsy

Michael Albers wears a black collared button up shirt. He has glasses and brown hair. He is standing outside.

Michael's goal was to live a seizure-free life. Learn how he achieved his goal with treatment at UPMC.

Read Michael Albers's story

Merissa Fitzpatrick: Epilepsy

Merissa wears a black and white floral print dress and a black cardigan. She has red earrings and a red necklace. She has short brown hair and wears glasses. She stands with her husband who wears a blue suit and blue tie.

In 2013, Merissa had her first grand mal epileptic seizure. After moving to Pittsburgh a few years later, she turned to UPMC for care.

Read Merissa Fitzpatrick's story

Jessica McCoy: Epilepsy

Jessica sits in her wheelchair in front of a garden with a floral sculpture in the shape of a butterfly. Her husband James hugs her. She wears a bright t-shirt with red, orange, green and blue stripes.

Jessica struggled with seizures for over 20 years and turned to UPMC for care.

Read Jessica McCoy's story

Sara Myers: Epilepsy

Sarah Meyers sits outside on a hay bale next to her small black and white dog. She wears a red sweater, jeans, and brown ugg boots. She has brown hair and glasses. There are two pumpkins resting by her feet.

Sara has struggled with seizures since she was a child and turned to UPMC for care.

Read Sara Myers's story

Darlene Otlowski: Epilepsy

A quotation from Darlene in white text on a purple background. It reads: "This new life is better than anything I've ever had. I'm so much happier and healthier."

After decades of untreatable seizures, Darlene had hope she would finally reach seizure freedom and underwent a temporal lobectomy.

Read Darlene Otlowski's story

Amanda Smith: Epilepsy and Pregnancy

Amanda, who had seizures, ensured a safe pregnancy by following up with her neurologist, finding comfort in their care. Read her story.

For people who are pregnant and have epilepsy, it’s extremely important to achieve and maintain control of seizures. That’s why Amanda contacted Page Pennell, MD, chief of UPMC’s Division of Neurology and founder of the Epilepsy and Pregnancy Medical Consortium, as soon as she had a positive pregnancy test

Read Amanda Smith's story