Dylan's Story - #EpilepsyDay 2026

Man in a red jersey kicking a football

To help raise awareness of epilepsy in advance of International Epilepsy Day 2026, Westmeath native Dylan Gavin reflects on his diagnoses of epilepsy and how that has affected his life as a professional footballer...

I’m 22 years old and I was diagnosed with epilepsy back in 2020. 

The first time I heard the word properly was the day I was leaving for a game, keys in hand, about to get into the car….I stepped out of the door and suddenly I had a seizure.

Charlton Athletic, the club I was with at the time, looked after me big time. They went above and beyond, and I’ll always be grateful for how they supported me though that moment. 

Accepting epilepsy took time.

When I found out I had it, I was fitter and stronger than ever, probably in my best spell of football. It hit me hard.

Then football got taken from me too….and a knee injury kept me out for four months, making everything even harder mentally.

And learning to adjust wasn’t just physical; it changed the way I saw myself. 

A normal day used to be easy; wake up. No medication, breakfast, and training. No fear of “what if?” or “when will it happen?”

Before the diagnosis, I was outgoing, always cracking jokes, loving football and loving life.

Losing that independence took a toll on me mentally. It changed me, how I moved, how I thought, how I went about things.

At the time, I was learning how to drive. But when you have a seizure, you can’t drive for a year. Losing that independence took a toll on me mentally. 

After a while, when I went without a seizure, life started to feel lighter again. I was enjoying things more, grateful, for every good day. At one point, I even forgot I had it, until I had to remind myself that this is something I still live with.

But when you’re going nearly one year and 10 months without a seizure, that’s something you hold onto.

Nearly two years of progress, fighting, adapting, rebuilding confidence. A milestone I am proud of. 

Recently, after that long stretch, I had another seizure, and it hit me harder than ever. 

I was enjoying life again, doing things I couldn’t do before, starting to feel free. Then suddenly, I was pulled backwards. 

Physically, it took my body time to recover. Mentally, it took even longer. That’s the reality of epilepsy., the mental effects can last far beyond the seizure itself. Sometimes it feels like starting form scratch again. 

People don’t understand that every single day, anything can happen at any moment. I’ve got to be aware of where I am and who I’m with. For years, I’ve kept everything to myself… stayed quiet… carried it alone.

But I’ve learned something important:
It’s okay to speak up.
It’s okay not to be okay.

Opening up is one of the bravest things you can do, and it took me a long time to reach that point. 

When I had my recent seizure, I realised I needed to get this out there, to show how strong I really am, and to help others who feel held back by something they can’t control.

If someone texted me about what they’re going through, I’d tell them this:
You’re going to be alright.
Enjoy your life. Enjoy your loved ones.
Be yourself, no matter what happens.

Epilepsy has taught me strength in tough situations. It is what it is…and you move forward. You keep going. You stay true to who you are.

Thank you, Dylan, for sharing your story - we know your message will resonate with others living with the condition and help them on their own journeys; as well as helping others learn more about epilepsy for International Epilepsy Day 2026. 

To follow Dylan’s advice and learn more about epilepsy visit the ‘Epilepsy Information’ page on our website.

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