#LiveGibStrong: Paint Your Pumpkin Purple This Halloween for Epilepsy Awareness

Halloween is right around the corner and here’s our Flashback Friday photo of my boy Gibson with his purple pumpkin.

A Purple pumpkin? Pumpkins are orange! 

So you may be asking, "Why is Gibson’s pumpkin purple?" 

Do you know why?

Please Note: This post contains two Amazon affiliate links for my books. This is not a paid post, and all opinions are always my own and from our own experiences.

Why is Gibson's Pumpkin Purple?

For Canine Epilepsy awareness. As many of  you know, the cause is near and dear to my heart as one of my Siberian Huskies, Gibson, was an Epi-dog (canine epileptic). He was diagnosed with idiopathic Canine Epilepsy in 2009, shortly after his third birthday. It was a very scary time and I felt very alone when he started having seizures. Ever since, I have a been strong advocate of Canine Epilepsy Awareness. Over the years I've written many articles, oodles of blog posts, and two books on the subject, as well as being a Purple Day® Ambassador, a volunteer case manager for The Wally Foundation~Canine Epilepsy (TWF), and fundraising for related non-profits, including our very first auction that benefitted both TWF and Canine Epilepsy Resources Epil-K9 Foundation's "Emma's Seizure Fund." Gibson and I were, and I will always be, dedicated to getting important information out to the public, and will share my resources, in order to help others who are faced with a dog who has seizures so they do not ever feel scared and alone. I also want  to help alleviate any uncertainties in an effort to encourage folks to consider adopting a dog who has seizures. With some special care and lots of love, Epi-dogs can live happy lives, for however long we are blessed to have them! 

It's not always an easy road, and it is many times a worrisome path, but a journey to this day I feel blessed to have traveled with such an amazing companion, my boy Gibson. Through our journey, we not only formed an incredible bond, but he taught me much about perserverance, determination, trust, and just really enjoying all the simple things in life, as a dog does every single day.

What is the Purple Pumpkin Project?

According to Epilepsy.com (home of Epilepsy Foundation® and Epilepsy Therapy Project), the Purple Pumpkin Project is the brainchild of founder Ron Lamontagne, whose youngest son was diagnosed with epilepsy at age four. “While on a drive through Connecticut one Sunday morning with his family (Ron) was brainstorming ideas on how to spread epilepsy awareness. The local pumpkin patch provided the solution. Since kids would soon be carving and decorating pumpkins, he thought why not make one purple and tell people about epilepsy when asked, ‘Why is your pumpkin purple?’” So in September 2012, Ron launched the Purple Pumpkin Project on Facebook to bring awareness to epilepsy. 

 

On Halloween, October 31, the eve of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, the Purple Pumpkin Project and Epilepsy Foundation of America encourages folks to go out and paint a pumpkin purple, share information about seizures and epilepsy. Here at the FiveSibes homestead, we will always have a purple pumpkin in honor of my sweet, silly, and brave Epi warrior Gibson. His pumpkin was, is, and always will be purple because Canine Epilepsy NEVER defined him. He loved life! Even with his battles of weak hind issues, periodic vomiting, and lethargy, it never stopped him. Even on the days he was limited to resting on his water bed, he was always a sweet, happy boy who loved to talk and give Gibbie kisses, and just hang with me and our other FiveSibes. 

His personality was as big as the sky, and his soul as deep as the ocean. He was such a special boy, and now he forever resides in my heart. I think of him every single day. I miss him every single day. He is proof that Epi-dogs can, and do, live full happy lives, however long we are blessed to have them.  They are amazing, strong, determined, and so inspirational. Gibson loved life. He lived with Canine Epilepsy and many side effects from the very medications that managed his seizures, but the last seven years of his life were seizure free! In hindsight, that is a miraculous thing. Looking back over the years, each hour that turned into a day, then a week, a month, a year, and then another...was a blessing, because Epilepsy is an unknown...you never know if or when or what will be a trigger. If I had to do it all again, would I still bring home that sweet, silly wooly ball of fluff? Absolutely. Gibson and I always strived to bring hope and spread the word about awareness and help educate folks about dogs living with Canine Epilepsy and seizure disorders, encourage people to not be afraid to adopt a dog with seizures, to understand the importance of medication schedules, the time and cost commitment, and to hopefully encourage people to learn all they can about seizures so they don't drop a dog off to the nearest (already overcrowded) shelter. Once upon a time, euthanasia was the recommended course of action for dogs with seizures, and that is so NOT the case any more! There are many resources, and much support and information now available to help pet parents navigate the mysterious, and yes scary, waters of having a dog with seizures. My wish will always be for other Epi-dogs to always #LiveGibStrong, and for their families to know that they are not alone. I am always here to help guide you, just drop me a line at FiveSibesLiveGibStrong(at)gmail(dot)com.

Education is Key!

By helping to spread the awareness about Epilepsy with others, we can help folks overcome any fears or misconceptions they may have. Through The Purple Pumpkin Project, we can offer our support to those living Epilepsy, both canine and human, and their families. So whether you paint your pumpkin purple, cut out paper purple pumpkins, or even glue purple pom-poms on your pumpkin - have some fun and get the conversation started with your family, friends, and neighbors about Epilepsy, and why your pumpkins are purple! Oh, and don't forget to enjoy some treats. Gibson was all about the treats!

For some great purple painting tips, 

visit HERE.

You can also read my article on The Purple Pumpkin Project and Canine Epilepsy is featured in the newest issue (Volume 5, Issue 3, Page 8) of American Pet Magazine! 

Purple Pumpkin Pets' Parade!

Together we can make a difference, and help support others on this journey called Epilepsy. Here's a flashback to our video featuring beautiful Epi-dogs and non Epi-dogs from across the world who have joined with us to show their support and prompt other people to ask, "Why is your dog's pumpkin purple?" We'd love it if you could share our video to encourage others to paint their pumpkins purple this Halloween in support of Epilepsy awareness.

#LiveGibStrongForever

Affiliate Notice: Below are links to purchase my books through an Amazon affiliate link, which simply means if you click on it to purchase, we will receive a small commission *at no cost to you*! 

Please be sure to check out my two books on Canine Epilepsy previously available through our ArcticHouse Publishing and on Amazon.com:

 

EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy - More than 100 stories from families across the world about their beautiful dogs living with seizures, plus an extensive resource list, information, and much more. 

NOTE: We no longer sell our books on Amazon. The only way to receive a NEW copy is directly from us. The ones being sold online are used and not from us.

 

 Independent Press Award for "Excellence" 

in Reference Book Category

*

New York City Big Book Award for "Excellence" in

 Animals/Pets Book Category

*

Named BEST IN PRINT  2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 by AmericanPet Magazine

*

Named “TOP DOG BOOKS 2015" by Talent Hounds

******************************

 To Purchase:

 

(NOTE: We are no longer selling copies on Amazon. If you see on up there, check the seller as it is not us. There are some USED copies being sold, and not by us. If you would like a NEW copy directly from us, and we donate a portion to Canine Epilepsy nonprofits, see below!)

 

Inside U.S.A.

Use PayPal Button Below

 

Outside of U.S.A.

If you live outside of the USA and would like to order  

EPIc Dog Tales Books, Email ArcticHousePublishing@gmail.com 

and put EPIc DOG TALES in subject

and we will invoice you a total, including shipping (and tax *for NYS only*).

 

    

~And~ 

 

 Currently Out of Stock

 

What's Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy - an illustrated, easy-to-read FiveSibes Tale children's book that helps to explain seizures and even a few tips to help remove the fear about Epilepsy. A portion of proceeds from both books will be donated to the "Emma's Seizure Fund" through the Canine Epilepsy Resources Epil-K9 Foundation at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Neurology Department. 

 

If you'd like to go on our list to order a copy when we have more in stock, Email us at: ArcticHousePublishing@gmail.com

Updated October 29, 2023

Run Free, Ciara...

I'd like to dedicate today's post to a beautiful Epi-dog, "Ciara," of a dear Blogger friend from The Chronicle of Woos, who just lost her battle with Canine Epilepsy. My heart breaks at this news and Ciara will be missed. Sending hugs and much love to her hu-mom and fellow packmate, Lightning. Run free, Ciara. Find my Gibson and your angel fursiblings, and run free now girl, with no more seizures ever, through those forever snowy fields North of the Rainbow Bridge.

  

The Flashback Friday Blog Hop is brought to you by us - the FiveSibes!  We welcome our co-host Love is being Owned by a Husky! We hope you'll find a photo or video from Memory Lane, post it, and link up to our Blog Hop each Friday! If you don't catch it on Friday, you can link up any time during the week! To catch our past Flashbacks, just enter "Flashback Friday" in the search box.  Come join us! We'd love to see your pets' Flashback pics! Just grab our badge below:
 

 

We are also joining in the Pet Parade, hosted by Rascal & Rocco, Bionic Basil, our co-host, Owned by a Husky, and Barking from the Bayou! Be sure to visit them and their hoppers!