Epilepsy patient becomes a nurse at B.C. hospital that treated her and changed her life

Dr. Chantelle Hrazdil, left, a Vancouver General Hospital neurologist and epileptologist, and Keri-Rose Tiessen. Photo by Eduardo Caceres

 "Keri-Rose Tiessen's struggled with a rare type of seizure - once the SIU diagnosed and treated her, she became a nurse in neuroscience." 

"Today, at 39, she’s able to play hockey, swim in open water, hike and run, drive a vehicle — all the things she loves and once was told she couldn’t do anymore."

"Her pacemaker isn’t a magic wand, she cautioned. It and her medication are like a bandage, preventing her from having heart-stopping seizures, but she still has smaller, less severe seizures on occasion."

"Being a nurse had always been her dream job. The team at VGH and the epilepsy clinic worked her medical schedule around her school work, as well as her days-long stays in the unit."

"So to be able to help calm some patients whose shoes she’s been in, it’s not exactly paying it forward, it’s more like things have come full circle.

“I’m not here without the SIU, you have no idea,” Tiessen said. “I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without them.”

Read more about Keri-Rose Tiessen at:

VGH Seizure Investigation Unit saved her, so she went to work for them | Vancouver Sun

Epilepsy patient becomes nurse at the same B.C. hospital unit that changed her life | Globalnews.ca

Cheers!

Donna