Epilepsy no match for Hingham runner's resolve

By Kathleen McKenna

For many people, running a marathon is an odyssey of sorts. For Karen Donahue of Hingham, the 26.2-mile race that she's already completed four times, and will run again on Monday, represents an odyssey she egan 23 years ago.

She was a new student at St. Michael's College in Vermont, excited about racing on the school's ski team. But five days into the fall semester, she collapsed while walking on campus. She awoke in the hospital and was told she had epilepsy.

The neurological condition produces brief disturbances in the normal electrical functions of the brain, or seizures. More than 3 million Americans have some form of epilepsy, but more than half are able to control their seizures with medication.

Donahue, who had what's referred to as "uncontrolled" epilepsy, was not so fortunate. Doctors told her she could no longer ski, bike, swim, or drive a car. "When you have epilepsy, the first thing you lose is your independence," she said.

She returned to Vermont to finish the school year, but everything had changed. She had frequent seizures, and she missed skiing and other sports.