Sam Kirkman

This Go Fund Me page is set up to benefit a fighter of recurrent seizures and epilepsy, my son Samuel Lee Kirkman. Sam, along with his wife Taylor Lux Kirkman, and all of our combined family stand together in the fight against epilepsy.

To meet and know Sam, is to love Sam. Sam’s zest for life as a child and today is contagious. He has a big heart for kindness and giving to others. He professes his faith and love in Jesus as his personal savior. He enjoys all things outdoors, loves working as a mechanic, is quick humored and frequently enjoys pranking his family when an opportunity presents itself. Sam works hard in all he does. He deeply loves his wife Taylor and desires a long, productive, healthy life with her. If you were to see Sam and Taylor today, you may believe this is a couple living out their dreams. They are both 23 and physically healthy. They have been married almost a year now, they both work in chosen fields of employment, they have a home, 2 dogs, and a newly established chicken coop. They enjoy hunting and fishing, spending time at lakes, and spending time with their many friends and family. However, epilepsy and recurrent seizures overshadow each day with uncertainty in how to move forward and how to plan their life together. Recurrent seizures is like moving ahead 2-3-4 steps only to be reset back to some point in time, to restart the clock from one seizure to another. Sam and Taylor have faced challenges most couples do not consider as daily decisions such as transportation needs to/from work, timeliness of medications taken, being and staying employed, the lack of insurance options available, and medical needs with hospitalizations, doctor office visits and medications to name a few, in addition to the concern of when to allow dreams in starting their family.

Seizures and Epilepsy are difficult to fully understand and comes quickly with medicine management options but little to no education for how to live your best life dealing with the full impact of a diagnosis.

According to the International League Against Epilepsy, ILEA 2014 definition of epilepsy states:

“Seizures and epilepsy are not the same. An epileptic seizure is a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Epilepsy is a disease characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition. Translation: a seizure is an event and epilepsy is the disease involving recurrent unprovoked seizures.”

https://www.ilae.org/guidelines/definition-and-classification/the-2014-definition-of-epilepsy-a-perspective-for-patients-and-caregivers

Sam’s journey in life with seizures and eventually the diagnosis of epilepsy began at age 15 and despite the best efforts for medication management and tracking seizures he has not achieved seizure freedom today. At age 15, Sam was in a pre-op room getting prepared for a second knee surgery and had a grand mal seizure after a blind knee injection of medication in preparation for surgery. He was admitted in the ICU for 24 hours, all testing came back normal - MRIs, EEGs, Blood work - and he was released home. Within the next 2 years, Sam experienced 2 additional grand mal seizures and was started on medication in December 2017, and Sam’s first abnormal EEG was during this time.

During the next years, Sam bravely pressed forward and graduated from high school in 2018 where he had continued participation on the soccer team and maintained his rank within the top 1/3 of his class. Sam also graduated from NASCAR Technical Institute in 2019 with certification in the FORD training program and began work as an automotive mechanic with dreams of being a diesel master technician. Sam persevered after graduation and began work as an automotive technician and faced new challenges such as - obtaining a job in his chosen field, of not having the same benefits most do at this age for full health and disability insurance with employers, of being safe and legally allowed to drive in between times of auto accidents due to seizures while his seizures were attempted to be controlled with increased amounts of medications. You see, Sam was not having any more grand mal seizures, however he did begin having focal/absent seizures during the latter part of 2018. Sam does not have auras that sometimes pre-warn of an eminent seizure and he has no recall of any seizures that has occurred. With each focal seizure, Sam’s medication was increased and eventually a second medication was added as well. Sam continued to press on and married the love of his life, Taylor Lux, in May 2022.

Today, unfortunately, his focal seizures have continued. Sam and Taylor were admitted to the hospital in February 2023 for testing to consider surgical options versus medicine management alone. Through much prayer Sam and Taylor have chosen to proceed with the recommended surgery as an option for improved seizure freedom. Sam is having brain resection surgery 4/25/2023. During the recovery from surgery, Sam will not be allowed to work for a minimum of 2 or more months and will be followed closely during the first year post surgery. We are told he may have some changes in his visual field and his memory post surgery. This is critical for them as being out of work also means no paycheck. Sam has not been eligible for disability insurance and is prayerful to be able to work again in the minimum amount of recovery time. However rest and decreased stress would benefit his recovery for an optimal outcome.

I am asking for prayers for Sam and Taylor, our family and all people impacted by epilepsy. I am also asking for your consideration to contribute to this fund to help Sam and Taylor have a lesser burden in the upcoming days, months, and year ahead for the financial needs in medical bills, maintaining their home, and their daily needs in living during the anticipated recovery process ahead.

Thank you for taking time to read this and for any support whether it be in prayer and/or financial. Our sincerest gratitude is expressed to you.