“Amor Vincit Omnia” in latin means Love Conquers All….. In my life, love has conquered all. On July 6, 2014 I married the love of my life. Our love story is one of trials, triumphs and heartaches. Rob and I met several years ago by chance when I went to visit a school for children with different learning styles for my sweet son Samuel. Rob was the Headmaster at this school and in time we began dating. We have experienced many wonderful and heartbreaking things together. We have encouraged, loved, and supported each other through the ups and downs of life. This man has watched me as I have traveled on this journey of starting this nonprofit. The encouragement and support that he has given me, has been like no other. Rob has wiped my tears as we have walked on this journey of autism with Samuel. When my journey of raising a son with autism, being a single mom to three little children, starting a nonprofit, and juggling life has been overwhelming this amazing man has given me the extra push to move forward and been the person to lighten my load. Rob is my other half…. He is the one I run to first to tell my good news and the person I shed my tears with. We laugh, cry, and live life to the fullest together. He adores me and my three beautiful children as if they were his own. The children have been blessed to have him in their lives and they will be blessed to have an amazing man help raise them.
As I began to prepare for my wedding day, the excitement was all around our home. The children were so excited to have Rob become part of our family. Our days and weeks were filled with making plans. Life began to get extremely busy as Rob was trying to finish out his school year. I had to travel to Ohio for Grand Rounds and then off to Minneapolis for a PCORI meeting. During this busy time, I opened a letter address to My Epilepsy Story from the IRS. As I was opening the letter, I called Rob to talk to him about something and told him I got a letter from the IRS for the organization. As I sat there, I began to read the letter out loud over the phone….. “We are pleased to inform you that upon review of you application for tax exempt status we have determined that you are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code.” My heart began to pound and the tears began to fall…… Rob said, “You did it, love! You did it!.” I just kept crying… The hard work had paid off in the end. The “bad” of having a son with autism from my seizure medication was going to make a difference for women and children across this country and eventually across this world. So, without my beautiful son there would not be a My Epilepsy Story or a Brandy McFadden. Love does conquer all in the end….Let us to give into love. I look forward to spending the next year, 6 years, 16 years, 26 years and beyond seeing where our love for people with epilepsy will lead us.
