Greater epilepsy awareness could be as simple as a walk on the beach, thanks to one New Jersey man. Kyle Adamkiewicz, 33, has lived with epilepsy since being diagnosed at age 6. He is now combining his love of art with the power of nature to help bring his seizure disorder into the spotlight. In Oct. 2022, Adamkiewicz began collecting seashells from the New Jersey shore, then painting and decorating them with heartfelt messages in search of a cure.
It started with just painting a few shells, and I figured no one would find them,' Adamkiewicz said in an interview with Fox News Digital. 'And then I saw people posting them online, and writing so many good and positive comments about the shells and about finding a cure for epilepsy. That motivated me to keep making more and more and more.' 'And now they have been around the entire world.
We have shells with us in the car all the time, and he places them in different locations, different towns,' his mother told Fox News Digital. Adamkiewicz estimates that he's painted some 1,100 shells so far. Many include messages about finding a cure for epilepsy, but he has also created themed designs for various occasions, like Shark Week and Halloween. 'Our entire living room consists of nothing but shells and paint,' joked Adamkiewicz’s mother.
Rozman praised Adamkiewicz’s seashell project, emphasizing the importance of increasing awareness of the condition. 'And it gives him an outlet, too,' the doctor said. 'Having other people to talk about your condition with and being part of a community can be very helpful.' In a way, Rozman said, Adamkiewicz is turning his epilepsy into a good thing.