This week the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that Harriet Tubman is going to be the face on newly-designed $20 bills.

Tubman was a civil rights leader who fought for the end of slavery and the right for women to vote. She also had seizures that stemmed from a head injury as a child.

Harriet Tubman rose above her seizures to fight for basic human rights owed to every American and changed the course of history.  She is one of many brilliant people who don’t let epilepsy get in the way of their dreams.

Here are some amazing people who happen to have epilepsy:

• John Roberts, the 17th Chief Justice of the United States and Neil Abercrombie, the Governor of Hawaii who campaigns for increased funding for epilepsy research.
• Musician Prince, who had epilepsy as a child and sang about his condition in his song “The Sacrifice of Victor” (watch him talk about his childhood epilepsy here).
• Athletes Florence Griffith Joyner, who held world records in the 100m and 200m and Jason Snelling, a former running back with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota knows hundreds more amazing people who happen to have epilepsy.  Our Winning Kid, Cecilia Bergren, has had epilepsy for 10 years and just returned from Washington, D.C. attending the national epilepsy awareness walk.  Coach Jerry Kill has done more for epilepsy awareness in the state of Minnesota than EFMN ever dreamed possible!

Seizures stink, and they can get in the way of life.  It’s inspiring to think about the greatness of Harriet Tubman or a musician like Prince, and the greatness of the 60,000 people we serve in our community with epilepsy!