Epilepsy affects 1 out of 100 people in South Africa, with 50 million people living with #epilepsy globally and i am one among those people who used to live with the #disorder
Today,Although it has been more than a decade since i fainted or had seizurei still deals with epilepsy stigma, and i have learned to deal with the stereotypes associated with the disorder.
For the first time in my life i came clean publicly and #BrokeTheSilence.My story was published by Snazo Notho, this past Sunday, in one of the national newspapers #SundaySun. WHY NOW .My reasons are simple- to take epilepsy out of the shadows of misconception into the light of understanding and acceptance. #EpilepsyAwareness
There is also a lack of education about epilepsy within the medical community. I remember back then at Boikhutso Clinic, in Lichtenburg,where i stayed with my granny,when we went to seek medical advice will initially be seen by nurses, who may have little experience with epilepsy and they will just give me painkillers/panados.
I broke the silence because epilepsy stigma and stereotypes continue to be so prevalent, some of my friends misunderstand epilepsy and i know couple of individuals in my circle of friends with the condition hesitate to get help.The other day when i asked one of my friend living with epilepsy why don’ they t seek treatment , she told me she was concerned epilepsy stigma could harm or affect her relationship with her boyfriend and her friends.
Unfortunately my grand mom had taught me never to lesson to what would people say
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By LUCK, after being hospitalized so many times, i can’t even count, after been to various churches,being introduced to many religious believers who prayed for me,gave me ridiculous things to drink,chew and some told my mom that epilepsy is caused by the evil spirits,some told her that they have bewitched me,some told her that i have the ancestral call (Badimo).
After being laughed at and being called names.I remember back in primary school one parent came to the school to tell my principal that i should stop coming to school because she believed that epilepsy is contagious.
Today I look back at my childhood days with a tear drop. I’m now alive to tell the tale as an epilepsy #survivor.It has been more than 15 years since i last had seizure.
i’m thankful to my family for their unconditional support and to my primary teacher Mrs Masita, Neo St. Dunstan Masitsa mom, who devoted her time to ensure that kids at school don’t give me ill-treatment and how can i forget to mention a very close friend of mine Shupi Selepe.Iam FOREVER grateful for these two people because they aren’t my family and they were not obligated to help me,but because of their kind hearts,they did.I pray that God Bless them and their family with #LOVE #GoodHealth #Happiness
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