A form of rhythmic writing, poems cannot cure epilepsy. But they can be therapeutic.

Carolyn Staffieri of Lititz knows some things about epilepsy and poems. Her book "With Me: A Poetic Expression of God's Faithfulness" embraces her journey with epilepsy through poems.

"I don't think there's a connection with epilepsy and poems," said Staffieri. "Some artists have the ability to write and be a positive influence despite their circumstances. I want people to know that if you find yourself in a world without explanation, you're not alone. I've had a glorious story, a painful story, a joyous story that's more than epilepsy. I want people to find someone to walk with them. Epilepsy is just a part of my journey."

Staffieri, who was diagnosed with epilepsy 30 years ago, recently self-published "With Me: A Poetic Expression of God's Faithfulness," a 135-page book of 122 poems, some of which were directly inspired by her struggles with the neurological disorder and some of which weren't.

"It is 'why me?'" said Staffieri. "It draws on my experiences with faith, hope and love. It explains my 30-year epilepsy journey."

"With Me" is a compilation of poems Staffieri began writing years ago. At one point she simply came to a realization that she had enough poems to put into book form.

"Someone I knew asked me how my writing was going," said Staffieri. "When she looked at the amount of poems I had, she said, 'This could be a book.' It really wasn't a chore. Sometimes it was like, 'Where are those words coming from?' It reminded me that I was never walking alone."

Some poems rhyme, and others do not. But all poems have some sort of rhythmic aspect to them.

"There are many different kinds of poems," said Staffieri, an alumna of Warwick High School. "Mine tend to be rhyming and lyrical. I write about the epilepsy. I'm sad about past things that happened in my life. I don't know how to explain it. I think it's just words from God that come out. Life can be ugly. I'm a critical care nurse by trade. I don't have an English degree. It's just a gift."

A chronic non-communicable disease marked by seizures, epilepsy is a common neurological disorder, affecting millions of individuals of all ages. Staffieri was diagnosed with her form of epilepsy at the age of 22.

"We've tried many forms of medications that give us more good days than bad," said Staffieri. "There is no good answer. The medications leave people feeling tired. There can be sadness and falls and memory loss associated with it. I need to be reminded of things. My pace of conversation may not be the same as yours."

Staffieri graduated from Lancaster General Hospital's school of nursing in 1992. She was working in the neonatal intensive care unit at Lancaster General when epilepsy cut her nursing career short.

"It was devastating," said Staffieri. "It brings a great deal of sadness. I had to give up something I worked hard for. But I realized it didn't have to be my identity. I'm grateful for what I have. It's more than I thought I'd ever have."

For additional information about "With Me: A Poetic Expression of God's Faithfulness," go to http://www.carolynspoetry.com.