“They’re calling it a breakthrough seizure from childhood epilepsy,” Carpenter said in a phone interview from the hospital. She said she felt fine, perhaps a little fuzzy, and was having X-rays taken to check any head injury suffered in the fall.
Carpenter, who was released from the hospital later Wednesday, suffered a visible injury to the left side of her face, which was swollen as she was being put on a cart by paramedics. She was conscious, but asking questions about where she was.
Carpenter, 51, said she had childhood epilepsy and suffered her last seizure when she was 45. Before that, she said she had gone 35 years without a seizure.
She believes the seizure may have been triggered by the fluorescent lights at the board of elections building.
“I don’t like drama, and apparently I’ve caused some,” she joked.
Carpenter was at the Board of Elections building to attend the board’s Wednesday meeting, where they certified candidates and issues for the May 4 primary.
Elections officials said they were unaware of any problems with their lights, but would look into whether they pose a hazard for those susceptible to seizure.
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