Staff and students at Toronto's St. Eugene Catholic School joined together March 26 in recognizing Purple Day, a global initiative dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy.

With many students decked out in purple attire, the hallways of the school beamed with the school's support through a bulletin board decorating contest, a visual expression of their commitment to epilepsy education.

For first-year vice principal Monica Diaz-Greco, the day of recognition was unlike previous initiatives she has seen in the past. This year, she was able to witness her new school community rally around a cause that resonates with her on a deep, personal level. 

“My husband and I presented the delegation to the board of trustees to get Purple Day recognized in Catholic schools in the TCDSB back in 2021, and to see it excel in this way is incredible,” she said. “It is all about creating an inclusive environment where people understand that we are all welcome, but also to ensure that people with epilepsy are safe and looked after.” 

Diaz-Greco’s now 11-year-old daughter Emma was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms — a rare, often serious form of epilepsy, when she was seven months old. With the cause of epilepsy education hitting so close to home, Diaz-Greco and her family took action by founding Emma IS, a not-for-profit focused on education. 

“In the midst of all of our grief following her diagnosis, I turned to my husband and we agreed together that we had to do something,” she recalled. “Years later, we decided we were ready to start this resource about creating awareness and sharing Emma's story.”

Emma IS has gone on to help raise crucial funds for related research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Back at St. Eugene, a school-wide dance-a-thon helped raise funds for Emma IS as part of the day-long activities. Diaz-Greco championed the informative nature of the initiative above all else, something she knows will go a long way for many families apart from her own. 

“We always hear people think that all epileptics are people falling on the ground and shaking, which is not true, yet these things persist in our society. When I saw the school decorated, it was a shock. I didn't know people were going to embrace it so fully, but so many parents said that they know that they are dropping their child off at a place that understands what their children live with, and that is encouraging,” she said. 

One of those parents is Emily Silva, mother of Abigail Silva, a nine-year-old student who lives with epilepsy. Silva said bringing awareness to the condition while providing knowledge to staff and students is important. 

“Knowing what a seizure can look like and what to do if someone is having one could potentially be life-saving, which is why this is such a great initiative,” Silva said. 

Working alongside Epilepsy Toronto, Diaz-Greco has also been instrumental in creating virtual Purple Day Classroom Kits. These kits feature lesson plans, educational videos and interactive materials, and have been shared by the Toronto's Catholic and public school boards to integrate epilepsy education into classrooms.

Purple Day reflects the wraparound style of care often prevalent throughout Catholic education.  The TCDSB focuses on providing education through curriculum matters, but also through inclusivity and awareness events. 

For Diaz-Greco, it’s even deeper than that. She spoke about the role Catholic faith has played in both her own life and Purple Day at St. Eugene as a whole. 

 ”I always find it fitting that Purple Day falls just during Lent and with that colour of purple. This is a time for us to call, reflect, pray, serve others, walk in compassion and lift up those in need. I feel like when we come together for whatever cause, it shows that we are choosing to stand together for people, who are often misunderstood or marginalized, who need our support — isn't that what Lent is all about?” she said. 

Holding a Master of Religious Education degree from the University of St. Michael’s College and currently pursuing a  Master's in Theological Studies, she notes that God has pulled her closer to her faith during her ongoing journey, directing much of her work in epilepsy awareness. 

Diaz-Greco shared that even through developmental delays stemming from her infantile spasms, Emma sees the logo of the cause and knows it’s about her — a connection that feels especially meaningful thanks to Purple Day being amplified by the TCDSB.