Caryn M. Sullivan: Jerry and Rebecca Kill, chasing dreams on and off the field Pioneer Press By Caryn M. Sullivan Coach Jerry Kill and the Minnesota Golden Gophers fulfilled a dream last weekend by defeating the University of Michigan Wolverines and reclaiming the Little Brown Jug, which represents their longstanding rivalry. It was a welcome contrast to 2013 when the coach remained in Minnesota to recover from a cluster of seizures while his team suffered a disappointing loss in Ann Arbor. Much has transpired in the past year as Kill has addressed his health challenges with a recognition that epilepsy is not a static condition, but, rather, one that requires ongoing monitoring and tweaking. Nearly a year after his last seizure, he is more vigilant about his diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. He is one of an estimated 3 million Americans and 60,000 Minnesotans with epilepsy, though many are reticent about it for fear of losing their jobs or not being hired at all. Vicki Kopplin is executive director of Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (efmn.org). Like every other nonprofit executive, she is charged with raising awareness and funds. For years she yearned for a high-profile individual to embrace her cause but no one was forthcoming. Then three years ago Kill experienced a well-publicized seizure on the sidelines during a Gopher game. Kopplin recognized him as the perfect partner to champion her cause and help dispel the myths surrounding epilepsy. She reached out to him. Initially, Kill said he would help to raise awareness but not funds. Jerry and Rebecca Kill were committed to supporting the cancer fund they established after he successfully battled kidney cancer. Then in April 2012 they attended the Epilepsy Foundation gala. It was a game changer. For the first time the coach spoke publicly about his condition, using the term epilepsy instead of seizure disorder as he was wont to do. Epilepsy sounded too scary. But in a room full of kindred spirits, he moved past the fear, in part because he realized others were struggling far more than he was. And they were all plagued by false stereotypes and stigma. Epilepsy has been around for thousands of years. People with epilepsy can experience more than 20 different types of seizures. Formerly referred to as grand mal, the tonic clonic is the most familiar seizure, though it occurs relatively infrequently. It is characterized by loss of consciousness, muscle stiffening, falling or jerking motions. In Jerry Kills case he will have a cluster of seizures then go through a dormant period. Rebecca Kill has been at her husbands side during every seizure and has learned they are not as scary as they look. Absence seizures are characterized by confusion or unresponsiveness. Sometimes teachers will assume a student who is staring off into space has ADD or is daydreaming when he is actually having an absence seizure. Regardless of the type of seizure, people with epilepsy are not cursed, possessed by the devil, mentally ill or impaired. They have a neurological condition involving brief and temporary changes in the way the brains electrical system functions. Epilepsy does not define who you are, Rebecca Kill told me in a recent interview. If I took all the minutes when Jerrys had seizures they wouldnt even add up to one day out of the 53 years of his life. While it does not define him, it has become a priority off the field. The Kills have become dream partners of the Epilepsy Foundation. In May they launched the Chasing Dreams initiative with the goal of raising $500,000 (including a substantial gift of their own) to support two specific programs. With new support from other high profile individuals with epilepsy who were inspired by the Kills, Kopplin is confident the foundation will reach its financial goal this year. Funds will support Camp Oz, a summer camp in Hudson, Wis., that serves 100 9- to 17-year-olds with epilepsy. They will also enable the Epilepsy Foundation to be more proactive in its education efforts through an age-appropriate curriculum that bundles services for school nurses, staff, parents and students. The goal is to make Minnesota schools seizure smart. The Seizure Smart Schools program will replace longstanding myths about epilepsy with accurate information. Armed with facts, bystanders can take appropriate action, rather than doing nothing or the wrong thing. The curriculum dispels fears and focuses on safety. It empowers bystanders to take correct action, such as lifting a childs head off of his backpack so that he can breathe during a seizure on a school bus. It also refutes a dangerous misconception that a bystander should try to keep a person from swallowing his tongue during a seizure. Putting something in his mouth or attempting to restrain the person who is having a seizure presents risks to both parties. The proper approach is to remain calm and turn the person on his side to ensure his airway remains clear. The Kills came to Minnesota to turn around the Gopher football program. But Rebecca Kill knew there was more to the move than football. Ive always said God has a plan for us, she said. When Jerry had cancer we started our cancer fund. Weve always said when you have something negative you need to make something positive come out of it. And so they are helping others to chase their dreams. Were going to do whatever we can to make those dreams come true, she said, noting, You cant always achieve your dream but you can always chase it.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 04:26:26 +0000
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