By The Survivors Club Staff
February 4, 2010

Wisconsin teenager Amanda Momberg began suffering from epileptic seizures when she was 8 years old, and they increased in intensity when she was 16, as her medication stopped working.

Desperate to stop the more than 60 attacks a day, her doctors decided to try magnetoencephalography (MEG), an imaging technique that tracks brain changes instantaneously, rather than with a second or more delay provided by standard MRI, according to ABC News.

The approach turned out to be a great idea, as it helped to identify the precise location of the abnormality, allowing doctors to surgically remove the affected tissue.

The teenager, who just graduated from high school, told the news provider that she is now seizure-free, and thriving as she prepares for a career as a preschool teacher.

"School was always questionable for me when I was younger," she told ABC, adding that "now I just feel so much more confident."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, epilepsy affects an estimated 2.5 million people in the U.S. and about 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Since the cause of the disorder is often not clear, it generally is not possible to prevent it. However, WebMD.com, a medical information website, says head injuries can induce seizures so it is important to always wear seat belts in the car and a helmet when riding a bike or motorcycle, skiing, skating or horseback riding.

Survivors and their families can access valuable resources through the website of the Epilepsy Foundation that also accepts donations.