Paula was an amazing DJ/MC for our wedding. She made the experience unique to us, and we loved that. Paula is very professional, but also has a wonderful personality that shines through.
Paula was worth EVERY PENNY.
We have gotten more compliments on our choice of DJ than of anything else.
If I had to do it over again, we would choose DeGraw Entertainment. ~Taylor B.
Hello everyone. My name is Paula. I am 52 years old and live in Tacoma, WA. I have lived with epilepsy for 35 years. My seizure diagnosis is complex partial seizures.
My life was a roller coaster of emotional and physical ups and downs, mostly related to my seizures. My epilepsy began as I was starting college. Trying to fit in and get started with college courses is hard enough as a 19-year-old butthrow this crazy thing called Epilepsy into the mix and watch the excitement!!
Or shall I say chaos? My life was a life of immediate and complete denial after that first seizure. I began asking myself, “Is this epilepsy thing real or just a cruel joke?” Seeing a neurologist and talking and learning more about epilepsy, the question if I had epilepsy went away and the fact that I would continue my epilepsy battle for years to come became a harsh reality.
After graduating from college and earning my degree as a Veterinary Technician, I proudly worked in the veterinary field for 18 years. My epilepsy did cause trouble with my job at times. Seizures caused me to lose 10-15 minutes at a time while working with patients or other hospital tasks. This would also cause me to forget my medicines. I was constantly tired due to medicine increases or just plain work-related stress that would lead to another seizure.
So, after 18 years, I had to leave my job as a veterinary technician and go on
social security disability. I had to relinquish my driver’s license at this time too. I felt my independence and self-worth were fading away…
About the procedure and recovery
Countless medication changes, lab tests & scans weren’t proving helpful in fighting my seizures. It got to a point where going out in public without my husband was unthinkable. Having a seizure that would leave me confused & disoriented, coupled with not being able to locate him, would cause stress & anxiety. The extra stress & anxiety would intensify the strength, length & duration of that seizure.
I was having 55-70 seizures per month that would last from 3-15 minutes. In 2004 I went into the hospital for my 1 st video EEG monitoring. This was the turning point for me as it led me to being referred to my current team of doctors and upon meeting my current Epileptologist, I knew we were in the right place. After reviewing my seizure history and test results with me, we decided to try a brain resection.
They removed 2 sections of my left temporal lobe. The resection helped to a degree but I was also told about a device similar to a cardiac pace maker but it is for the brain. It helps to stop or lessen the number of seizures I have. It is known as a RNS. In 2007 I opted to have this device implanted and have never looked back! I have gone from 55-70 seizures a month down to 0-3 a month now and they are no longer violent or incapacitating. They last only a few seconds and I have complete awareness!
Seizures had kept me from attaining some of my lifelong dreams but after my surgeries and with much better seizure control, my dreams are now becoming realities! I have a new sense of independence and self-confidence lost due to epilepsy. My husband and I started a mobile DJ/karaoke business in I provide music and fun for people at weddings, private parties, and social events. In 2009 I began coaching girls’ high school fast pitch, which had always been a dream of mine. In 2017 I was coaching fastpitch and began coaching high school bowling!
As you can see, my vision is now 2-fold, to empower others to succeed in their battle with epilepsy, and to succeed in my battle.
Please have a read on my story and journey about how and why we started our DJ entertainment business.
Looking for a wedding DJ? Are you having a military or civilian event? Contact us now to book your event in the Tacoma Seattle area.
