A Pathway to Purpose

Purpose is a hard concept to grasp for many people. But when Mandy Graham’s son, Brock Graham, was on the cusp of his 18th birthday, she knew he would find meaning in whatever he did, despite living with a serious malady. Lennox-Gestaut syndrome has been present in Brock’s life since he was 3. LGS is a severe form of epilepsy characterized by multiple types of seizures, cognitive and behavioral impairments and other neurological issues. Before his diagnosis at the peak of his struggles with LGS, Brock suffered over 250 seizures daily. 

After various medical procedures and personal adjustments, Brock’s condition is more stable, though he still experiences seizures every day. His family does their best to support him and help him live a meaningful life. But when Brock’s 18th birthday was in sight, in August of 2024, it was an off-hand comment by a nurse that propelled the Grahams into their current venture. 

“She asked, ‘Now that he’s 18, what are you going to do?’” Graham, ba ’00, recalled. “And that kind of made me frustrated.”

She knew her son had purpose and whatever he did would inspire others, and that’s how the idea of a coffee truck emerged – almost instantaneously.

“I thought in that moment, ‘Coffee, what better way to make people happy?’”

Within 24 hours the family started working on the project that would become Brain Surge. Based out of Hiawatha, Kansas, the coffee trailer is volunteer run. While Brock needs a caretaker all hours of the day – including during work hours – he still contributes to every event they attend. And despite being a full-time speech pathologist, Graham dedicates herself to Brain Surge as well, traveling for regional and national events. 

“We have an event almost every weekend,” Graham said. “What we do – it’s about a purpose and mission within communities.” 

In October, Brain Surge was present for Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland, a special three-day event that touts itself as the “biggest gathering of epilepsy physicians and patients on Earth.” 

“It would be great to reconnect with the Washburn community,” Graham said on her desire to bring Brain Surge to her alma mater in the future. 

She received her bachelor’s in mass media from Washburn before she went on to obtain a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Kansas. While she changed her career path, she is grateful for the lesson her experience taught her of keeping hope and remaining determined. 

Her advice for students, especially those who feel a little lost when it comes to their life’s mission is “just to seek out what you want to do” and to remember “you are not defeated when you change your mind.”

Reflecting on Brock’s journey and the success of Brain Surge, Graham remains positive.

“We started this battle 16 years ago; it felt like a catastrophic event and despite that, Brock is thriving. And he has a purpose.”