Meet Doris Johnson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Doris Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Doris, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found my purpose when I began to attach everything to my pain. After I began to realize what my pain birthed, I discovered that my pain is my purpose. And in a matter of speaking, my pain was my labor which gave birth to my existence.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Twenty six years ago, I had a cluster of seizures and a mild stroke. Initially, doctors didn’t understand where they were coming from. At the onset, I was eight months pregnant. When I woke up, 5 days later, my entire life changed forever. I had a baby in the midst of the start of a life altering disorder. And it took a while for me to even remember being pregnant. Doctors described the episode as a “freak of nature” until they defined the condition as epilepsy seven years later. The “freak of nature” was no longer just a “freak,” it was the start of me learning, and then understanding that the seizures were the result of head trauma that I suffered in an abusive relationship. I was devastated and in denial for years after that.
Two years after the diagnosis, I wrote a book chronicling my life which was centered on the events of the abuse. I spoke at churches, women’s centers, shelters and even Wayne State University. Through all of those events and appearances, my focus was on physical abuse. I didn’t put much emphasis on the outcome…just that of the abuse. I functioned as best as I could over the years. It was 22 years after the fact that I accepted that I had to reassess my life.
In 2020, I was hospitalized for 5 days again….and it was much more serious that the emergency room visits, here and there, and the overnight stays every other year. I had two car accidents and that still didn’t stop me until in 2020. I don’t remember much other than waking up, and then having as many as 25 seizures in one day. This was it! I stopped driving and made other healthier choices. I was putting myself, and the lives of others, in possible harm’s way by driving everyday. In 2020, I started a non-profit to assist women who were leaving abusive relationships, and then it came to me…I kept skipping over the seizure disorder that developed from the abuse. While I have many ventures (irons on the fire), I realize that I couldn’t continue to suffocate the epilepsy.
In January, I decided to write a children’s book about Epilepsy (Candi’s Superpower…a tale of epilepsy), and I did that this summer. It is ready and will be available on October 1st. And I am extremely excited for many reasons. I am not telling my story personally, but I am educating others and hoping to spread awareness. It’s a beautiful thing! And not only is this my passion project…this pain is my purpose!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Honesty…I had to be accepting of what was looking me right in the face. I could lie to the entire world about my condition, but I couldn’t continue to blanket the smoldering flame of the pain I housed.
Awareness…I didn’t know much about epilepsy other that the misconception that a person who had seizures was not normal. I had to do a lot of reading and research to understand the condition…otherwise, I would continue to be ignorant and deny the assistance I required/require.
Self Love…I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I didn’t feel acceptable, so I wore this mask all the time, and put on a happy face. I ignored who I really was, but then the light switch came on, and I saw myself! I had been beautiful all along. I just have to adjust my rear view mirror.
If you are early in your journey…take your time. Understand that you will have good days and bad days, but you are still great! Do some research, and surround yourself with people who love you. Epilepsy is your superpower! Do something positive with it!

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am definitely looking to form collaborative efforts with like minded individuals or groups. I would love to start a transitional house for women who are rebuilding after leaving an abusive relationship. I had family to go to, but that was only when my walls had completely fallen in. Shelters were full. People working with abusive women were cold and uncaring. And the resources were disgraceful, few, fair between, and often unavailable. When I was in the hospital, after having re-constuctive surgery, because of an assault, the hospital did not provide resources for me. They did not have anyone to assist me with materials or a support system. The police took a statement, stood watch by my door, and forgot about me we when my stay was over. Many women stay in abusive relationships because help is not available. I was treated unfairly and made to feel worthless by those put in place to help me. I can’t stand for that. I have the passion but not enough manpower to get this project underway. I need resources from A to Z. I can be reached at Jdoris376@gmail.com or 313-247-8277. Thank you!!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

DaNai Alyse
Anthony Morgan

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