testimony. “Wai, we keep it for life”. Powered and stabilized, this fire extinguisher can finally take on a new life

Alexandre Martin’s life changed overnight, from his first epileptic seizure, a neurological disorder that affects about 1% of the population. This firefighter was forced to show a great ability to adapt to his professional world. And the operation he benefited from changed everything.

At the Rennes fire station, Alexandre Martin is training for a new profession. After ten years in the field, this former firefighter’s career ended abruptly at the age of 31, when his first epileptic seizures appeared: “I was a professional firefighter, I no longer had the right to practice. I was a scuba diving instructor in my spare time, I no longer had the right to practice. I rode a motorcycle, I was no longer allowed to drive and I lived in the countryside… ”

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Numerous treatment trials followed. There is not one type of epilepsy, but many types. So not one valid treatment, but several, that must be dosed,”Depending on each person. For most people with epilepsy, the treatment eventually works, and the seizures disappear from their daily lives. But Alexandre is drug-resistant.Which means there is no treatment that can prevent seizures. So we have to learn to live with these crises to be able to function on a daily basis.”.

In the absence of effective treatment, you should have quality sleep and as little stress as possible to reduce the risk of an attack. “SO You can imagine that it’s not possible to get up at night to go to an intervention, it’s not possible to deal with unexpected events with that intervention.” Alexander explains. Not to mention the risk of epileptic seizures during the procedure.

Basically, we don’t have the right to be firefighters anymore and at that point, it’s hard to accept.

After the trauma, Alexandre Martin becomes more creative. Reconversion is required. Alexandre becomes manager for firefighting communications operations: “My employer gave me a challenge, told me ok, if you pEnough of your graduation. I didn’t have a diploma, so at the age of 32 I passed my graduation” Alexander says with pride.
Although no longer in the field but in the fire brigade, Alexander was able to thrive in this new profession, “On having epileptic seizures several times a week.”

We live again, we simply feel free. It is no longer epilepsy and its limitations rule my life.

Alexandre Martin

Epileptic, former firefighter retraining

But his epilepsy is getting worse. Alexandre undergoes the surgery, but new obstacles arise when his condition requires him to drive a heavy vehicle. The company doctor advises against it and Alexander has to change jobs once again.

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With the support of his boss, he sets a new horizon: the study of practicing risk prevention at work. “We live again, we simply feel free” Alexander then notes this new change of direction.

“It is no longer epilepsy and its limitations rule my life” Alexander, who sees new career prospects, such as pushing his studies towards a bac+3, new responsibilities and ” Development will take place in the next 25 years.

Epilepsy, we have it for life

From an illness that imposed itself on him, to his new professional life, in which he copes with illness, Alexandre’s case is an example of adaptation. Today, he has only one or two epileptic seizures per year.

(with Mariam Thibaut)