"Half my face had collapsed." | Identity after Bell's palsy
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In this episode, we explore how Lesego’s life changed when he developed Bell’s Palsy, and what it took for him to reframe identity, hope, and resilience
If you've been listening to something shifted for a while, you've probably wondered about your own life quake. For Lesego, there are two distinct moments when the ground beneath his feet gave way. When he was fifteen, his dad passed away. And again, when he was 32, he thought he was having a stroke.
Eventually, it was confirmed that Lesego Majatladi had Bell's Palsy.
Bells Palsy is a strange condition which doctors can only diagnose once every other possibility has been ruled out.
An unexplained paralysis of facial muscles often associated with the latent effects of stress, Bell’s palsy begins suddenly and can get progressively worse.
In Lesego’s case, contracting Bell’s palsy was an acknowledgement that the life he had wasn’t what he wanted for himself, and things needed to change.
QUOTES:
'I stopped interacting with the world more than anything because it became an irritation. You walk into a room and people literally gasp, and then you must explain what's going on.'
'Experiencing Bell's palsy at 32 was terrifying, but it forced me to reevaluate my life and priorities.'
'The gift of Bell's palsy is an appreciation of mortality. You suddenly realize that life is not guaranteed, and if you want to do things, you better do them.'
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/seanloots
RECORDED AT LATITUDE PODCAST STUDIO: https://www.staylatitude.co.za/latitude-podcast-studio/
If you've been listening to something shifted for a while, you've probably wondered about your own life quake. For Lesego, there are two distinct moments when the ground beneath his feet gave way. When he was fifteen, his dad passed away. And again, when he was 32, he thought he was having a stroke.
Eventually, it was confirmed that Lesego Majatladi had Bell's Palsy.
Bells Palsy is a strange condition which doctors can only diagnose once every other possibility has been ruled out.
An unexplained paralysis of facial muscles often associated with the latent effects of stress, Bell’s palsy begins suddenly and can get progressively worse.
In Lesego’s case, contracting Bell’s palsy was an acknowledgement that the life he had wasn’t what he wanted for himself, and things needed to change.
QUOTES:
'I stopped interacting with the world more than anything because it became an irritation. You walk into a room and people literally gasp, and then you must explain what's going on.'
'Experiencing Bell's palsy at 32 was terrifying, but it forced me to reevaluate my life and priorities.'
'The gift of Bell's palsy is an appreciation of mortality. You suddenly realize that life is not guaranteed, and if you want to do things, you better do them.'
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/seanloots
RECORDED AT LATITUDE PODCAST STUDIO: https://www.staylatitude.co.za/latitude-podcast-studio/
Chapters
- 00:00 Intro
- 05:05 Bell's Palsy Diagnosis
- 07:21 The impact of bell's palsy
- 09:46 Reflections and realisations
- 13:11 Dad's gift to Lesego
- 19:01 Transformation
