The end of John O'Grady's life hit me very hard because I've lost a
friend that understood. I met John in 2002 when I first found The
Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio. In the Men @ Epilepsy meetings
John's positive attitude toward his disability (seizure disorder)and his
volunteer labor with the Foundation helped me find my way out of my
sadness of being disabled myself.
With John's encouragement, I too became a volunteer councelor for Camp
Firebird. The children and the week I spent with John helping to build
their confidence and making them happy gave me a new profit to work for.
John knew I was living with my sister and Mother because my seizures
were uncontrolled. He knew I wanted my freedom back and he asked me to
move into his house as a quard. I helped take care of John's kingdom and
his Huskie for nine months while he biked for Epilepsy Awareness. He
inspired me to start biking myself.
Two years later I visited John at his new beautiful mountain home in
Chattahoochee, Georgia and spent a week biking across several states and
planning our E'migo Epilepsy Awareness Ride for the summer of 2005. I
will never forget what John helped me see, a new profit to work for. He
helped me place my life in happiness once again.
John perished in a car accident we all wish never would have happened.

Todd Matthew Kozuszek
Matias E'Migo