Focused on Living a Full Life
Alis volat propriis. “She flies with her own wings.” All her life, Tia has lived by these words, the state motto of Oregon. The words capture her love of nature, a strong independent streak, and an unbreakable belief in herself.
Tia recently moved from Eugene to Portland and enjoys exploring her new town.
“There are a lot of nice trails here,” she said. “There’s a river that runs right through the city. It’s really pretty.”
Tia’s new home allows her to spend more time with her sister and niece, who live just one door down from her.
“We are super close,” Tia said. “With her and her kids right next door to me, we are always there to support each other.”
The proximity to her family has been crucial. A massive stroke in 2009 left Tia with brain damage, post-traumatic stress disorder, and worst of all, seizures.
“The seizures weren’t bad for the first 10 years,” she said. “But in July of 2019, I had 30 seizures in one week.”
Her doctors diagnosed her with epilepsy and recommended important treatment, including new seizure medication, to put an end to her debilitating episodes.
“When I was discharged, I saw the treatment was $160 a bottle,” Tia said. “It was the only thing that stopped my seizures, but I could not afford something like that.”
A social worker referred Tia to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Epilepsy Copay Assistance Program. The program provides eligible individuals with financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for prescribed FDA-approved treatment, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
“When I heard I was eligible, I was so excited,” she said. “It meant I could get back to doing things on my own.”
No longer experiencing daily seizures, Tia was able to begin counseling and physical therapy sessions. Before long, she was back to her active way of life.
“I have a couple of walking partners and have been hiking every other week,” Tia said. “Now that I am seizure-free, I can be more active and take advantage of the outdoors.”
Tia is grateful to have her independence back. With her family by her side, she is ready to take on the future.
“TAF has truly saved me financially and physically,” she said. “Now, I’m able to stay positive and focus on living a fulfilling life.”
