The Epilepsy Shield Project: The First 120 Paintings

Chris M. Arceneaux developed epilepsy after hitting his head while working in the dark caused a lesion in his right temporal lobe and the scar tissue which formed as it healed became a focal point for seizures. After going to a few different neurologists over about 14 years with no luck of getting his seizures controlled by trying different medicines and increasing dosages while the seizures progressively got worse, he was able to find an epileptologist who actually ran more test finding his focal point and he was able to have brain surgery. During the surgery they removed a golf ball size pieces of his right temporal lobe which had the scar tissue in it. The surgery did help him become seizure free while staying on lower dosages of medicines.After becoming seizure free he began to get heavily involved in the online support groups and advocating for epilepsy online and at live events. Then one day a Facebook friend who did not have epilepsy suggested he might be able to use his painting ability in his advocacy work leading to the idea of his first awareness painting. The Shield of an Epilepsy Warrior was the first painting and the beginning of The Epilepsy Shield Project in 2015. He has now completed 10 series of 12 paintings each with different themes to help spread awareness, support people living with epilepsy and to help teach the public the truth about epilepsy to help end the myths that have persisted for centuries.