Former patient using her epilepsy journey to support others
Former epilepsy patient Hattie Brant has returned to the ward at our Children’s Hospital, which inspired her to create her own business to help others living with the condition.
Hattie, from Halesowen, was just 14 when she experienced her first seizure while on the way to a dance class. Coming under the care of our healthcare professionals shortly after, Hattie immediately felt at ease thanks to the supportive teams who looked after her.
She didn’t hesitate in revisiting the healthcare professionals at the hospital and even surprised patients with goodie bags and words of encouragement, chatting with others going through a similar journey to herself and sharing her experience.
The 25-year-old, who runs Purpledayss, said: “The feedback I receive most often is that sharing my own lived experience helps people feel seen, understood and gives them hope that epilepsy doesn’t have to define their future. That’s always been my biggest goal.”
Reflecting on how it changed her life, she said: “At the time, we had no idea what was happening, and it was an incredibly frightening experience for both me and my family. It took away all my independence in the blink of an eye.”
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that causes seizures (sometimes called fits). While it can’t currently be cured, treatment can often help manage it.
She added: “I found this hospital to be a safe space and whenever I was struggling with my mental health or epilepsy.”
Reflecting on this, she said:
“The care I received was fantastic, from the nurses to the neurologist. The team were always supportive, understanding and genuinely listened to both me and my family. They helped us navigate an incredibly difficult time and gave me the confidence to keep moving forward, even when treatment wasn’t straightforward. I’m incredibly grateful for everything they did for me.”
After being diagnosed, Hattie turned to social media to find a community where she felt understood. When she couldn’t find exactly what she was looking for, she decided to create it herself.
What began as a personal outlet to share her experience soon became something bigger, with other epilepsy sufferers reaching out to share their stories and seek support.
Five years after her diagnosis, Hattie officially launched Purpledayss, a business with a clear goal - to build a community centred on awareness, education, connection and empowerment.
Now working as a Special Education Needs (SEN) Teaching Assistant, Hattie continues to run Purpledayss alongside her day job.
Having already delivered talks in schools and at support groups, collaborated with epilepsy organisations and participated in awareness campaigns, as Purpledayss grows, Hattie is committed to supporting children, young adults and their families to ‘be proud and seize the day’.