Shanna Jenkins on Raising a Child With Epilepsy & Finding Strength as a Mom

In 2011, Shanna Jenkins’ life flipped in an instant when her toddler Malachi had a sudden seizure that led to an epilepsy diagnosis. She takes us inside the early days that most parents never forget… the ambulance ride, the “what now?” questions, the medication decisions, and the constant vigilance that comes with seizure risk. Shanna also shares what long-term parenting with epilepsy really looks like: learning seizure triggers, advocating at school, building a safety plan without turning your child into “the fragile one,” and slowly handing your teen the keys to self-management. Years later, Malachi is thriving as a 17-year-old with big goals (sports, marching band, travel, tech)… and Shanna reflects on the mindset shifts that helped her move from fear to steady confidence as a caregiver.