‘You couldn’t ask for anybody better’: New foundation director aims to improve lives of people with epilepsy

At 5 years old, Trudy Baxter discovered her passion for helping others after befriending a neighbor who was mentally disabled.

“I touched this person’s life,” said Baxter, who remained friends with her former neighbor Linda Rabon until she died 10 years ago.

Now, Baxter is executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois, based in Belleville. Baxter isn’t new to the organization. She’s moved her way up the ranks during the past decade.

“I love what I do. The reward is in your heart,” she said. “I have a personal relationship with every client we have. I love them all.”

Baxter has served the Epilepsy Foundation at all program, fundraising, executive and leadership levels.

Board President Mike Buehlhorn said Baxter brings “leadership and creativity to the programs and a deep sense of commitment to our cause ... and has a breadth of perspective and experience.”

The Epilepsy Foundation, which started in 1977, serves 34 counties in Southern Illinois. Baxter said the foundation offers a “full spectrum” of services including operating four group homes in Belleville; providing home-based services, case management, and emergency medication; holding support groups; training first-responders, school nurses and others; and running a summer camp for children.

Kevin Dawson, 50, of Wood River, said the Epilepsy Foundation has helped him in various ways for more than three decades, including finding a program that reduced the cost of his medications, and he enjoyed helping the foundation start the summer camp for children.

Baxter was Dawson’s case worker for eight years. “She’s been doing a good job with them,” he said of Baxter’s work with the foundation.

Jean Bedwell, 48, of Belleville, also praised Baxter, who was her case worker as well. “She’s always there for me,” Bedwell said. “If I need someone to talk to, I know I can call her. You couldn’t ask for anybody better.”

The foundation does whatever it needs to meet the needs of its clientele, according to Baxter. “We really do go above and beyond,” she said. “We really take a holistic approach.”

The nonprofit organization also hosts day trips — an outing to the St. Louis Zoo or the Missouri Botanical Garden — for people who have epilepsy.

“We go out and about and do things they are afraid to do on their own,” Baxter said. “I try to make sure they have all the experiences everyone else has.”

Foundation employees accompany some clients to doctor appointments as a liaison. “We kind of translate and help people know what’s going on and make them feel secure,” Baxter said.

The training is a vital component of what the foundation does, according to Baxter, who said it’s necessary for police officers to know about epilepsy.

“Sometimes people who have epilepsy can look like they are on drugs,” she said. “We want everyone to be safe.”

The Epilepsy Foundation, which has 37 employees, helps thousands of people each year, according to Baxter. “It takes a lot of people to move mountains,” she said.

It’s hard to determine an exact number of clients the foundation serves, she said. Epilepsy affects one in 26 people, and there’s more than 40 different types of epilepsy.

Baxter took over for Ellen Becker, who retired after 15 years as the executive director at the end of last month. Becker, 66, of Belleville, isn’t completely retired though; she continues to teach part-time at McKendree University in Lebanon and operate a private counseling practice.

Becker, who has two sons with epilepsy, enjoyed helping clients and the fast pace of day-to-day operations at the foundation. “There was never a dull moment. It was always interesting,” she said. “I really enjoyed the last 15 years, but the last couple of months dealing with the legislative issues has not been easy to deal with. I knew it was time to move on.”

The Epilepsy Foundation receives some state funding, which could be reduced as a result of the state’s budget problems.

“We aren’t going to be able to help as many people if the (state) doesn’t get us our money,” Baxter said. “It’s critical. ... I worry about the people we take care of.”

In contrast, Baxter is pleased about the progress Illinois is making when it comes to medical marijuana. “We are excited for the new and available treatments,” she said. “The fact of the matter is it changes lives.”

Baxter looks forward to helping the Epilepsy Foundation move forward. “I can’t want to continue to grow the agency,” she said.

This story was originally published July 12, 2015 at 9:56 AM with the headline "‘You couldn’t ask for anybody better’: New foundation director aims to improve lives of people with epilepsy."