Jonathan Tuteur's story begins before birth. One of his triplet siblings grew a vein from her placenta to Jon's to survive. Doctors said they had never seen anything like it.
For thirty years, that was little more than a fascinating story until Jon collapsed at home. Then he did it again, at work in Arlington, Virginia. And a third time, in the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. A doctor explained to Jon he had epilepsy.
Jon's birth story is his doctors' best hypothesis as to why he has the disease, which affects more than sixty-five million people globally.
The next fifteen-plus years included more than five hundred seizures, forty nights in the hospital, and three brain surgeries involving fifteen holes drilled in his head.
Jon's inspirational odyssey with a life-changing disease, and his ability to ultimately see it as a gift, will invite you to reflect on your life and purpose.
Seizing Today is an account of an ordinary life interrupted by extraordinary change. Vulnerable and honest, it is a remarkable story of resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of human connection.
"Imagine being smart, successful, with a career that takes you to different parts of the world, and suddenly facing a diagnosis that makes you question everything about your future and yourself. Jon shares the denial, shock, fear and exploration of his condition as only he can-with honesty and vulnerability. He takes you on his journey, walking you through the steps he took to treat his body, and in the process transform his whole self. There are lessons here for everyone, regardless of what you confront in life." - Martin (Marty) Kaiser, Pulitzer Prize Winning Former Editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Jonathan so clearly depicts the frustrating and, at times, mind-numbing (pun intended), odyssey of epilepsy treatment. Long after I'd read the last line, what lingered with me most was the compassion, honesty, and hope buzzing through these pages. Seizing Today is a beautiful testament to the lengths we will go to fight for our lives and the expense it can take on an individual and their family." - Kelly Cervantes, USA Today Best Selling Author of Normal Broken: The Grief Companion for When It's Time to Heal But You're Not Sure You Want To
"It takes a lot of courage to write such a profoundly personal and vulnerable account of what it's like to live with a disease that is still so stigmatized and misunderstood. Seizing Today is equal parts inspirational, educational, and deeply moving. This is a beautiful read." - Dr. Jaqueline French, Director, The Epilepsy Study Consortium (TESC) NYU Langone Health
"As an epileptologist treating patients with epilepsy every day, I believe Seizing Today is a phenomenal resource for individuals experiencing seizures, their caretakers and really anyone experiencing disease in their life. Jon takes you on his epilepsy journey and addresses an extremely technical topic while making it easy to understand and relate to with vivid imagery and metaphors." - Dr. Kahlil Husari, Neurologist, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Assistant Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University
Jonathan Tuteur's first seizure occurred at age thirty. Over the next fifteen-plus years, Jon endured more than five hundred seizures, forty nights in the hospital, and more than two hundred medical tests. After his third and final brain surgery, Jon is now seizure-free. But seizure-free and cured are two different things; he still takes medication and remains careful with his lifestyle.While Jon's path was frustrating and painful at times, he looks back on it as a period of growth during which he learned some of life's most important lessons. And, like so many diseases, epilepsy also affects the community of people who care for the impacted individual. Jon has immense gratitude for all those who have been part of his journey.Jon's work as an executive leadership coach, facilitator, speaker and author has taken him to five continents working with organizations across almost every industry. He is also adjunct faculty at the Federal Executive Institute where he teaches an emotional intelligence course to senior leaders. His writing has been featured in publications including CEO World and Mentors Collective. Jon lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife, Julia, and their two daughters, Naomi and Josephine. All three are the loves of his life, followed by his passion for reading and Philadelphia sports teams.
