Forty-year-old Trudy Kerr has gone public about her epilepsy for the first time. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

When Trudy Kerr was first diagnosed with epilepsy following a horse riding accident four years ago, she refused to tell anyone, daunted by the stigma attached to the word.

The 40-year-old has now gone public about her condition for the first time. She will be running the London Marathon next month to raise awareness about the condition as well as to demonstrate that sufferers can live normal lives and that epilepsy is not a “dirty word”.

“It has taken me four years to speak about epilepsy. Unlike breast cancer, for instance, there isn’t a lot of awareness and understanding surrounding epilepsy. It is still regarded as a dirty word, something you’re ashamed to speak about.

“Upon mentioning the word epilepsy, most people immediately think of a person strewn on the floor, having a violent seizure. In reality, there are over 40 different types of seizures and they affect different people in different ways.”

There are over 40 different types of seizures and they affect different people in different ways

Ms Kerr was born in London but has been living in Malta for the past eight years.

Four years ago, she was in the process of re-schooling a racehorse for dressage when the horse bolted.

As it was heading towards the road, Ms Kerr pulled a jockey stop, making the horse fall down.

However, the heavy horse landed on her and kicked her hard. Ms Kerr later woke up in hospital to be told she had suffered two brain haemorrhages and a ruptured spleen.

Miraculously, she was back at work that same week.

While thankful to still be alive, it was not long before she realised that things were not quite right with her brain.

Ms Kerr started to experience strange sensations in her head, similar to electric vibrations.

She also started to have what she describes as “strange and invasive memory episodes”, coupled with strong feelings of déjà vu.

“My brain started to give me false memories which were also very emotional. In fact, I told my friends my grandparents were coming – even though I also knew they had been dead for years.

“I would also be convinced that I was at my grandparents’ house, although my grandparents had never even been to Malta.”

After ignoring the changes for six months, Ms Kerr visited a neurologist, who diagnosed her with simple partial seizures.

At the time, she would get seizures once a month, where she would suffer up to 60 seizures over a period of 48 hours.

Some two years ago, she suffered one of her biggest seizures while in a restaurant.

As she was being helped out of the restaurant by a friend, the bar woman, who noticed her slurred speech, commented that “she can’t handle her drink”.

Ms Kerr has now learnt to cope with her symptoms. An epileptic aura, which often manifests itself as a hallucinatory unpleasant smell or an intrusive memory, warns Ms Kerr that a seizure is approaching.

She has now conducted radio shows, client meetings and even crossed the finishing line of the Malta half-marathon while having a seizure.

She is now hoping to raise funds and get people talking about epilepsy by running the London Marathon on behalf of the UK’s Epilepsy Society and the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association.

“It’s been a long journey. It’s taken me four years to speak about epilepsy. But I consider myself very fortunate – I didn’t want this condition but I have it and I’ve managed to beat it, live with it and do something positive.”

To donate, search for “Trudy Runs London” on Facebook.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder, the hallmark of which is recurrent, unprovoked seizures.

In most cases the cause is unknown, although some people develop epilepsy as the result of brain injury, stroke, brain cancer, and drug and alcohol misuse, among others.

Many tend to use the term “seizure disorder” instead as “epilepsy” seems more serious or stigmatised. However, almost all seizure disorders are epilepsy.

There are many other kinds of seizures, each with a different set of symptoms. Epilepsy cannot be cured but seizures are controllable with medication in about 70 per cent of cases.

In those whose seizures do not respond to medication, surgery, neurostimulation or dietary changes may be considered.

It is estimated that there are more than 4,000 people with epilepsy in the Maltese islands, according to Janet Mifsud from the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association.

She emphasised the need for more awareness and that epilepsy does not mean that life stops.

Many famous people had epilepsy, including Charles Dickens, Prince, Lewis Carroll and Vincent van Gogh.