Jack’s Army founders Mike and Liz Pribaz got a much-needed night off from child-care duties to attend, for the first time, the annual Heroes’ Night Gala. It was hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago and held at the Museum of Science and Industry on Friday, February 21. The program concluded with a tour of the new permanent exhibit called Science Storms, a showcase of nature’s mysteries. The exhibit’s description could easily apply to epilepsy research, a fact surely not lost on the event’s organizers: “Science Storms is a journey that takes us from wonder to inquiry, curiosity to observation, investigation to understanding.”

As Mike and Liz stood in the vortex of a virtual tornado at the end of their evening, they reflected on their top 5 whirlwind gala moments:

1. Kurt Florian gave a nod to Jack’s Army in his address. The President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago stood before a packed house and spoke of all of the different ways that the war on epilepsy is being waged, and he specifically mentioned the "grassroots" success of Jack's Army! What great exposure for our little foundation in a room full of epilepsy advocates, lawmakers, clinicians, and researchers.

2. We talked with the evening’s honoree, Susan Axelrod, founder of CURE, congratulating her on receiving the Distinguished Richard N. Rovner Hero Award. We chatted with her about Jack and KCNQ2 and thanked her for inspiring us as parents and as a foundation. It was a wonderful opportunity to personally express our gratitude for the CURE's $300,000 grant to Dr. Cooper.

3. US Senator Dick Durbin announced a $200 million appropriation that he helped set aside for the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. Some of these funds will go toward the study of epilepsy and traumatic brain injury in soldiers coming back from war. 

4. Illinois Senator Dan Kotowski, whose dad we had met and talked to in the coat check line, talked about his own connection to epilepsy (through the Danny Did Foundation) and the exciting future of medicine in this fight, including medical marijuana.

5. We were moved by the story of the winners of the Hero Award for Inspirational Commitment. Jack and Manjula Pfingston lost their son Zach to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in 2009. CURE is leading the way in preventing and finding the cause of SUDEP. All proceeds from their annual golf outing go to Camp Blackhawk for kids with epilepsy. Zach loved that camp.

Heroes Night reminded Mike and Liz what a vibrant, passionate group the epilepsy community is. The gala gave them a chance to recharge their batteries, to network, and to learn. Jack’s Army thanks the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago for putting on a great event.

To top off the night, Mike and Liz met a new friend. They were seated with Gregg Rosenthal from Mt. Prospect, a man who suffered from seizures as an adult and was eventually forced to get a portion of his frontal lobe removed. Gregg was an advocate in convincing Governor Pat Quinn to declare November epilepsy month. A dedicated golfer, Gregg pledged to attend the Jack’s Army Third Annual golf outing in July.