Stories behind Milo&Me: Mika

Hi! My name is Mika, and I am so lucky to have been able to join this group. I first met Sophia at the Teen’s Speak Up 2023 epilepsy conference, where we and a few other girls immediately hit it off and found support in one another.

I was first diagnosed in the 7th grade with absence epilepsy, and I am now 18 years old, with my epilepsy having been controlled for the past few years with medication. My journey with epilepsy was one where I faced isolation during middle school and the beginning of high school, fearful of coming out and sharing my story as I already was ashamed of having this condition. As high school continued, however, I found support from my family and closest friends and picked up various hobbies to occupy my time and help me feel accomplished.

A little bit about me, I’m from California, and I am planning to attend Case Western next year. I love playing the piano; it was one of those hobbies that I immersed myself in, and it just became a natural part of what I do. I also love hanging out with my friends, and we sometimes go downtown to take pictures or cook at home and watch horror movies. I recently signed with a modeling agency and hope to pursue that while studying premed. We also have a small puppy named Finn, and he’s the absolute best at making my day whenever I come home.

By attending the TSU conference this year and meeting so many other teens that had epilepsy, I’ve had a new perspective on epilepsy, and I want to help speak up about it and mental health, as both are very important to me. As a part of my advocacy, I’m beginning a project called Made Out of Mind, where I take an artistic and creative view on talking about these topics.

I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to join this group, and I’m excited to see what happens next!

- Mika B.