By: Mario Martinez
In the December 3 issue of The Jersey Journal, New Jersey City University’s women’s soccer co-captain Amanda Filippone, 20, sociology major and psychology minor from Kenilworth was featured in an in-depth article for her off-the-field battle with epilepsy; a medical condition that affects 65 million people worldwide.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes unpredictable seizures when the electrical system of the brain malfunctions. Epileptic seizures may last from a few seconds to a few minutes; however, the emotional distress is omnipresent.
“It’s scary. You know you’re in one place, and then next thing you know you’ re waking up in an ambulance,” said Filippone to The Jersey Journal.
In September, during warm- ups against conference foe William Paterson University, Filippone suffered an epileptic seizure which was the first to ever happen to her while playing soccer at NJCU. It began with stiffness in her back that she thought she could remedy by stretching on the sideline. She laid on her back to do a routine stretch, then suddenly she began to convulse and was immediately rushed to the hospital.
Filippone was released from Jersey City Medical Center that same night but was told that she was not cleared for any physical activities until test results came in. Weeks later, the analysis revealed abnormally low levels in her results that gave Filippone the option of a medical redshirt season which would give her an extra year of eligibility at NJCU.
“Soccer’s been huge for me. I’ ve never thought about restrictions once I stepped on the field,” Filippone said. “I kind of just felt as if everyone else, as if nothing is wrong with me, no medical issues. I just felt like I was one of them.”
Filippone admits that playing soccer not only allows her to feel like everyone else but also says it has helped her to be herself.
“I feel like soccer has kind of opened me up more as a person to kind of spread the word. My first year, my coach told the team. As the season went by and the year went by, I kind of came to peace with it. I knew I had to kind of open up.”
Without Filippone, the Gothic Knights have stumbled to a 1- 11-1 record this season and are greatly missing her leadership.
Still, Filippone has remained positive and has done all that she can for the team from the sidelines. From attending practices to traveling with the team to games, Filippone has done everything for the team except play. But in mid-November, which is the National Epilepsy Awareness month, she received good news from her doctor that said she was cleared to perform physical activities.
According to her doctor, Filippone’s health is not threatened by playing soccer, but suggests she avoid heading the ball as a precaution. Now with a chance to redeem a season that was lost, Filippone is already training for the 2014 season with revitalized determination and an “all-or- nothing” mentality.
“Once I step on the field, I play every game like it’s my last. I never know when I’m going to get a phone call, an email or the next doctor’s visit to tell me that I can’t play.”
To read the entire article on Filippone, visit www.nj.com.