Taylor Lauer

Age: 14
Grade: 8
Market: St. Charles, Missouri

Taylor Lauer, a dynamic young woman, is a 4.0 student who has been involved with the student council, cheerleading and mentoring—she doesn’t let her tonic-clonic and absence seizures limit her. Instead she educates those around her, including the students and staff at school, about epilepsy and seizures.

The school community was not always supportive of Taylor, but with support from their local Epilepsy Foundation, she and her parents persevered until teachers received training about seizures. Since then, the Lauer family actively participates in various Foundation programs, helping to raise money for and awareness of epilepsy.

“Kids with epilepsy are just like everyone else—they can do anything other kids can,” Taylor said. “They’re not defined by epilepsy, epilepsy is just a part of who they are.” Taylor, always concerned about those around her, even volunteers at her local Crisis Nursery.