Hannah Pickles died at home, in bed on April 26th 2020. The cause of
death was Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy(SUDEP). Hannah was 26 years old and had lived with epilepsy since the age of 13.

Her epilepsy was resistant to drug control and the seizures left Hannah
dazed and confused for two or three days afterwards. They also affected her memory and concentration. Despite these limitations, Hannah worked hard and successfully to get through GCSEs, A-levels and her  degree at Nottingham Trent University

Waking up every day, never quite knowing how she would be able to
function and the strain of coping with living with epilepsy, took their
toll on Hannah. This often left her feeling uncertain about herself and
low in confidence. After finishing her degree, it was very difficult to
find suitable employment opportunities due to the frequency of her
seizures which took one week in three out of her fully functional life.

The information and support through Epilepsy Action was important  for Hannah and the whole family in developing our understanding of epilepsy and helping Hannah establish an active life.

 She explored a vast range of activities  including jewellery making, proof reading, country walks, volunteering with the Severn Valley Hospice, Mayflower Centre and Breathing Space, a community choir. Hannah also kept a fantastic network of friends personally and through social media, something that we have only really become aware of
 since she died.

We lost a special person in Hannah; special for the brightness she brought when she was fully on form and special for the strength, determination and resilience that carried her through
the difficult days.

For anyone who needs information, real life stories or re-assurance that life can be good, the support of Epilepsy Action is there as a resource for individuals and their families. Please donate in memory of Hannah and please help as many people as possible increase their awareness of the needs of people with epilepsy.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.