Reagan Dewalt looks like any other teen.

But she also has a back story that has shaped the way she looks at her future.

When Reagan was 6 months old, she had her first seizure and was later diagnosed with epilepsy.

“I suffer from complex partial absence and tonic-clonic seizures,” the 13-year-old said. “I have endured multiple hospital visits and frequent lab and diagnostic tests.”

She thanks the doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for helping her and her family find a combination of medications that have allowed her some freedom by controlling the seizures for the time being.

Last week, she stood before the Carbon County Commissioners as a representative of the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania and accepted a proclamation recognizing November as Epilepsy Awareness Month.

“The public recognition by Carbon County holds immense significance for our community,” she said, noting that there are 650 Carbon residents living with epilepsy. “Epilepsy remains widely misunderstood. This proclamation signifies a crucial step in our mission to shed light on epilepsy, dispel misconceptions and eliminate the stigma surrounding it. Our goal is to empower individuals experiencing seizures, ensuring they no longer feel ashamed or afraid to discuss their experiences openly.”

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects one in every 26 people.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said ways to help a person who is having a seizure have come a long way over the years.

If you see someone having a seizure, you should turn them on their side and cushion their head. Never put anything in their mouths and don’t try to stop the seizure.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich also pointed out that there is more than the typical grand mal seizures everyone recognizes.

For more information about the foundation, visit www.efepa.org.

For more information on epilepsy, visit www.epilepsy.com.