The Journey to the Truth
— Meagan Earley

If you had asked childhood Meagan what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have said a mom. Four-year-old Meagan would have said a shortstop for the Texas Rangers, but after that, being a mom was my biggest dream. I didn’t anticipate making that goal a reality…

I have always loved dogs, and for most of my life, I’ve had one by my side. There’s just something about their unconditional love that feeds my soul. My children will get mad at me if they don’t get their way, but my dogs are happy as long as I…

I grew up in northeastern Texas, where it snows about once a year. Usually, it’s just a dusting that stays on the ground one to two days at most. Every few years, though, Mother Nature sends a real winter storm our way. We just survived the latest one, a week…

My late daughter, Austen, had her first seizure just over 10 years ago. Those early years with Dravet syndrome were so chaotic that I was barely able to remember what day it was, much less keep a mental log of all of her seizures, appointments, and medication changes. I…

My mind has been filled with memories of my 9-year-old daughter, Austen, since she passed away from complications of Dravet syndrome 16 months ago. Some days, it’s all I can do to think of anything else besides the constant flood of moments with her that my mind wants to…

Even before Austen, my 9-year-old daughter who passed away from complications of Dravet syndrome, was born, I always loved traditions. Our family may not have had much money to spend frivolously, but traditions made up the rhythm of our year and gave us something to look forward to each season.

The back-to-school season looked a little different for my family this year. After losing my 9-year-old daughter, Austen, last year to complications of Dravet syndrome, I decided to take this year off from teaching in the classroom and homeschool my son, Atlas, so it would be easier to…

I recently had a visit at a Children’s hospital for the first time since losing Austen, my 9-year-old who passed away last year from complications of Dravet syndrome. While it was part of the same network as the hospital Austen visited, it was in a different city, for a…

Our family packed up and moved from Texas to Colorado just weeks after Austen, my 9-year-old daughter who passed away last year from complications of Dravet syndrome, was diagnosed with the condition. She was only 13 months at the time, and we stayed there for over five years. We…

My late daughter, Austen, loved birthdays, even when they weren’t her own. She loved any opportunity for a celebration, cake, and presents. And hers or not, she was going to help open them. Last year, the birthday of my husband, Dakota, was only two days after Austen’s memorial. We…

It’s been one year since we lost Austen, my 9-year-old daughter who passed away due to complications of Dravet syndrome. One year without her kisses and her sweet voice asking if I need a hug. One year without seeing her play or fight with her siblings. One year without…