As a child I always considered myself ' sick or not normal'. Along with the usual childhood problems of coughs and colds I also feel unconsciousness and missed school whenever this happened. Medicine, which I had to take daily regularly, was a constant reminder that I was unwell.

Six months after birth, I had my first seizure and it was only around age of 12-13 that I began to really understand what epilepsy was all about. My school life passed in a blur. I lacked concentration and was often drowsy. Lacking confidence in may abilities and myself, I shied away from meeting people and talking to them. Fortunately, my parents noticed I had musical talent and had me train in classical singing. After doing my 10th grade, I did a beautician's course and for two years thereafter ran a beauty parlor from my home.

Life changed for me after my neurologist referred me to SAMMAN the epilepsy support group. When I first heard of this group my reaction was " I do want to join this group of people- they must be all mad ". Never one to socialize much I was obviously afraid. My mother had to coerce me to meet the group, which I eventually did. On meeting them, the one thought I had was " they are just like me ". I felt quite at home with them and eagerly awaited future meetings. Today I consider them ' My family'. Earlier I was never confident of traveling alone. Interacting with the group I grew in confidence and when we shifted residence from Colaba to New Bombay, I started traveling alone. After this I did volunteer work at the outpatients epilepsy clinic at K E M Hospital for 5 years.

One particular SAMMAN member Mahesh by name took a liking to me used to phone to me often. Love blossomed at our Epilepsy in house workshop in Deolali and I am happy to say we got married in 1999. Currently, I work as a caretaker at the E- cell, our epilepsy center.

My seizures are nor very well controlled with medication and I consider myself ' normal and healthy. I have gained confidence and satisfaction from my work. Working at the hospital O P D made me thankful, for my sufferings seemed small in comparison. Today whenever I narrate to people, especially those who have just discovered they or their children have epilepsy, that I have the same illness, it gives them much hope. The very least we can do to help each other is share our lives and thereby offer comfort. I have come out of the shadows and so can they.

Source : Sharing Experiences of Epilepsy with You, Aug 28, 2004. Taiwan