Ms. Pushpavalli is a 55 years old lady hailing from a middle class orthodox Hindu family from Bangalore, India. At age 13 years, when most of the young girls start entering the higher secondary school with lots of ambitions, and goals, this young girl started getting convulsions.

She developed frequent complex part ial seizures becoming generalized and hence was not allowed to move about freely by her parents for fear of societal rejection and possible injuries.

In spite of this and with her will and determination she completed her graduation - B.Sc. In view of the frequent seizures her medication was increased and she wass very regular in adhering to the doctor's advice. Her interest and resolve to be economically independent guided her to complete her post graduation degree of B.Ed (Bachelor in Education). This did staying in a hostel.

The parents were anxious to get her married but she decided to go into a job to support her family as her father by then had retired from service. There was also the difficulty of rejection for matrimonial alliance in view of her frequent seizures. With her qualification of BSc and B.Ed she though she will be able to get a job easily and she did get, unfortunately as soon she revealed she has epilepsy the jobs were denied or even after getting a job she was asked to quit. She withdrew into a shell as she had to face multiple problems - uncontrolled seizures, multiple drug therapy, decision to remain single, the economic burden and social responsibility of looking after parents and inability to secure a job in spite of high qualification.

This was the time; she was referred to a tertiary hospital by her neurologist to evaluate for surgery. She was hoping that one day she could also be a 'normal human being' and come out of the shadows of this 'dreaded' epilepsy. Though she was 50 years, with the support of her close-knit family, she took a decision to undergo surgery for her epilepsy. She went through the 'ordeal' of postoperative period followed all the instructions of her treating team of doctors.

Today, three years after her surgery, she is totally free from her epilepsy, almost completely off the drugs. As she has conquered her epilepsy, she decided to help other fellow human beings suffering from epilepsy. She has joined the Indian Epilepsy Association, Bangalore Chapter as a counselor. She regularly attends the counseling clinic, week after week for the past two years meeting people with epilepsy, narrating her own successful story of conquering epilepsy, motivating others to lead a healthy, useful life.

Pushpavalli conquered her epilepsy with sheer motivation and Zeal and continued to lead a useful life dedicating her life to the epilepsy movement. What a remarkable women - naturally our selection for this coveted title from IEA, Bangalore Chapter !.

Source : Sharing Experiences Epilepsy with You, Bangkok, 2004