"Winning Kids"
Chosen to Represent all
Idaho Children With Epilepsy

Justine Streeby
"Winning Kid" for 1998 - 1999

1998 -1999 "Winning Kid". During that year a special 4th grader who lives in Sweet represented Idaho's children with epilepsy. Justine Streeby, nine year-old daughter of Mike and Dian Streeby, was chosen as EFI's "Winning Kid" by the Foundation's Client Services Committee. Her triumph over her seizure disorder made Justine a perfect representative of all children who face the many barriers and stumbling blocks that come with seizures.

When Justine was just a little girl, she was having many absence seizures daily. If there was any relief it came from drugs that would work for a short time only. And many times the medicines made Justine feel badly and interfered with her learning.

Finally, Justine and her family made the commitment to try the Ketogenic diet. It took great patience and effort on everyone's part to keep Justine on this very difficult and restrictive diet, but it paid off. This brave little girl was soon experiencing fewer and fewer seizures, and everyone noticed the emergence of a "new" Justine. She was more attentive, had more energy, and became much more a part of the world around her. The diet was not easy, and Justine got very tired of all that "fat" food: cream, mayonnaise, bacon, butter. But she and her family persevered. They did not give up.

Now, Justine has learned how to barrel race on her horse. She clogs and is part of the Gem Cloggers. Justine likes to play the piano and ride her bike. She's working hard at her studies at Ola School. The great news is that Justine conquered her seizures, was slowly taken off the diet and now lives seizure-free, eating "normal" foods.

Justine represented all Idaho children with epilepsy and her name was submitted to the Epilepsy Foundation in Landover, Maryland for consideration for the national "Winning Kid". She was selected as a runner-up to Nicole Achkar of California and was invited to attend the Epilepsy Foundation's national conference in Seattle in August, 1999. During "her year," Justine shared her story at different EFI events and was recognized as Idaho's "Winning Kid". The Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho was proud that Justine was our representative and extends to her our best wishes and big congratulations for more successes in the future. Way to go Justine!

Justine and Julie Olson with Governor Batt