Austin Kristof

Age: 14
Grade: 9
Market: East Moline, Illinois

Austin Kristof is a sensitive and artistic young man who is passionate about his art and helping others out. He’s a Boy Scout who aids his elderly neighbor and actively works toward letting others know people with epilepsy are just people who have a condition—and that there’s really nothing that different about them.

Although Austin experiences side effects from his medications, which still haven’t quite controlled his seizures, his parents are supportive of all his endeavors and strive for him to live as normal a life as he can. Meanwhile, his siblings have learned to be protective of their brother without giving him special treatment, so he can be just another kid.

“Really, nobody is normal,” Austin said. “Everybody has their own problems and challenges. If everybody was normal, people would be perfect, and that is not possible at all. I just want people to know that epilepsy is not contagious, and people should not fear seizures but be able to assist a person having one.”