Q: When did you experience your first seizure? What kind was it?
I had my first seizure when I was 15, and it took almost a year to get the exact diagnosis. My seizures have always been tonic-clonic seizures and through the years they actually got worse. Since a couple of years ago, they have been managed.
Q: At the time that you were diagnosed, did you think you’d have to stop playing sports?
Snelling: As somebody who didn't understand what epilepsy entailed, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. But I took it as something that I had to overcome.
Q: How did your family respond?
In the beginning it was a scary thing. But they knew they had to keep my spirits up. At the time it was easy for me to feel down, because I really didn’t know how epilepsy was going to affect my career or my everyday life. But my family always encouraged me and gave me the sense that everything would be all right.
Q: Certainly it was hard to be a teenager coping with epilepsy. How did your classmates react?
My classmates were very supportive. But being so young with a condition like that, you have your doubts and your fears. At first I was really afraid to open up about it, because I didn’t know how my friends would react.
Q: Stress is a seizure trigger for many people and playing professional football must be incredibly stressful. Do you have certain things that you do to help you manage the stress?
Yes, I do a lot of things in general for my body. I try to take my medicine at the same time every day, and I get a lot of rest, as much as I can. I cut out a lot of things—drinking and stuff like that—because I don’t want anything to set me back. You have to do extra things when you have epilepsy, but the payoff is worth it because you can enjoy life.
Q: What inspired you to become outspoken and help others with epilepsy?
I was fortunate and blessed to be able to live my dreams and do what I want to do with this condition. I realized there were a lot of kids who were afraid to talk about it and afraid to do the things they love because they were afraid a seizure would happen around their friends or family. Because I was able to deal with it and get where I am today, I wanted to help others do the same. It’s really rewarding when I can talk to kids, relate to the stories they have and encourage them to get up and do the things they love. Like I did.
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