Memoir to Epilepsy (2022)
The piece is my experience with Epilepsy and finding a treatment that helps keep it at bay. I'm currently in my fourth year (senior year yay!). I'm a student at STAMPS.
Page 1: Top panel is completely grey with a yellow lightning strike. Written next to the lightning strike is the word “BOOM.” There is a faint outline of the neighborhood yet a detailed drawing on the right of a house with a car on the street and fence around it. The panel below on the left looks in through the patio. Two grey figures, Peninnah's parents, stand over a baby crib. The panel to the right looks from the point of view of the baby up at the two figures who are smiling. The bottom panel looks down on the purple baby in the crib from the two figures point of view.
Page 2: The panel on the left looks through the bars around the crib at the baby as a snake approaches. There is a lavender hue around the snake. The panel to the right shows the snake coiled around the baby's neck, the lavender hue surrounds them. In the panel below in the top left corner the parents look concerned looking down at the crib as the lavender hue rises. In the bottom right corner the baby cries surrounded by the lavender hue. The bottom panel shows her parents holding the baby surrounded by the lavender hue. The snake is in the foreground heading right.
Page 3: The top panel shows a young Peninnah, colored purple, surrounded by a lavender hue dropped down on one knee as the snake slivers around her. A grey ball is in front of her on the left. The middle panel shows the snake fully around Peninnah. Her art materials are spilled out on the floor to the right of her. The lavender hue surrounds Peninnah and the snake. The bottom panel shows the snake circled around Peninnah as she lies on the floor. The lavender hue still surrounds her. Her phone is tossed out to the right of her.
Page 4: The Greek symbol for time in purple borders the top and bottom of the page. The entire page is entirely lavender. Peninnah lies on the floor surrounded by a giant snake also in the form of the Greek symbol for time.
Page 5: The top panel shows two purple hands holding a sheet of paper that reads SCN1A surrounded by a lavender hue. The middle panel shows two grey figures, doctors, holding papers and sample tubes. The snake sits center on the panel in a cage all surrounded by a lavender hue. The bottom panel shows Peninnah being presented with a sword and shield surrounded by a lavender hue.
Page 6: The top panel shows Peninnah on the right side approaching a giant purple snake. She holds the sword and shield. Both characters are surrounded by the lavender hue. The bottom panel shows Peninnah slicing the head off of the giant snake surrounded by the lavender hue.
Page 7: The top panel shows Peninnah exhausted with words HUFF to show that she is breathing heavily. The snake body is sliced in half and is surrounded by a lavender hue. The bottom panel shows Peninnah leaving the the scene beads of sweat are on her face. The snake re-assembles in the background. Both characters are surrounded by a lavender hue.
About the Creator
Image description: Peninnah (she/her) is a black woman with curly hair. She wears a navy blue button up shirt with pink flowers. She is smiling at the camera from a 3/4ths angle.