DECATUR, Ind. (WOWO) — Crystal Hershey has battled epilepsy for six years, a struggle that unexpectedly reshaped her career and brought her community closer than ever, according to 21 Alive (WPTA). Hershey, 45, said a seizure at her previous job in a factory highlighted the safety risks she faced, prompting her to seek a new line of work. That search led her to Decatur’s Pizza King, where she was quickly welcomed as a server. “I just walked into Pizza King, and they gave me a job, and they’re great there,” Hershey said. “I just, I love waitressing.” Despite finding her passion, Hershey’s epilepsy continued to challenge her. Seeking relief, she traveled to the Cleveland Clinic for surgery, where doctors removed her left temporal lobe, which they believed was causing her seizures. Her recovery, however, took a sudden turn for the worse. Shortly after returning home, Hershey fell while getting up to use the bathroom. Her daughter and granddaughter found her unconscious on the bathroom floor. At the hospital, doctors discovered three separate brain bleeds, requiring emergency surgery that left Hershey with a soft spot on her head and temporarily without hair. “I came out with no hair, and I came out with a soft spot,” she said. “They had to remove my bone.” Throughout her hospital stay, Hershey’s coworkers at Pizza King kept the community updated via Facebook posts, which quickly gained widespread attention and support. “A thousand likes, I can’t believe it! It shocks me. It rocks my world!” Hershey said. “It’s hard to believe because, ‘Ah, 45-year-old with epilepsy, like, who’s going to care?’ And, people do care, and it just warmed my heart tremendously.” Hershey said the support of her “Pizza King family” has been a vital part of her recovery. Local residents looking to help Hershey cover medical expenses can contribute to her GoFundMe campaign. The post Beloved Local Waitress Overcomes Health Challenges with Community Support appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less