An incident from My childhood

I gained life’s basics and knowledge at “Widia Poorna Prajna School” (W.P.P.S), one of the best in its category in Bangalore. I was proud to be a part of it back then, and I am so even today; and so should everybody else who was associated with it. The school had all the facilities that an educational institution should have, from a huge library and a class leading set of faculty, to a vast sports section and a play ground. Anything you name was available for us to choose from the path of our interest and shine. But fortunately or unfortunately, I was used to less enjoyment and more studies, from my early days at school, mainly due to my shyness to mingle with people as I used to stammer. I always subconsciously felt that I was nowhere compared to others and that I wouldn’t match them in anything. Besides, I never used to play any outdoor games in my school or at home, which led to less exposure. My friendship was limited to a few only. But, I had a decent Annual report. During my exam schedules, I usually studied late night till 2:00 or 3:00a.m, and was up by 4:00 or 4:30a.m as I had a habit of revising the whole portion of the subject before attending the exam.

One day, when my mid-term exams were going on, I awoke by 4:00a.m as usual and I went to the toilet which is at the back of my house. While I was on my way, I felt a slight jerk. I thought it was due to my sleepy-eyes with drooping eyelids. But surprisingly, when I reached the toilet, I experienced it once again. My legs slipped down the floor and I lost my balance. Even before I could think that this might be a serious problem and it might lead to some serious consequences, I lost control over my body and my senses. It threw me like, a bull bashing randomly, numerously and mercilessly. Everytime, even before I could sense or feel what was I suffering from, it struck me again and again with enormous power. It was so rash on me, I even banged myself to the doors and walls. I felt as if someone else was controlling me, in a brutal manner. This led to a major damage. I hurt my head, with blood dripping like water drops, along with swellings at the joints of my body. When I got my senses back, I was drained out completely, with no energy to stand. At this moment, I was stunned and still not knowing what to do and not able to believe the fact that this was happening to me. It was repetitive, making me feel nothing literally and finding myself in a different place and position every time I got my senses back. I didn’t know what to do. I started to panic, and somehow crawled till my parents’ room and started banging the door and woke them up. I couldn’t even tell them what I was going through. I could only see my body and hands shivering at a high pace at irregular intervals accompanied by jerks without any sense of feeling. Meanwhile, my parents sensed that something is wrong. My father got up suddenly, held me tight and tried to control me, while my mother went to wake my uncle up as he stayed just beside our house. He was a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine. I could see my mother wiping her tears as my uncle laid me on the bed and treated me and calm me down, reducing the shivering and jerks. I felt that it was something strange, something magical at that point of time, because I never thought I would become normal again. My mother was weeping all this while.

When the sun was out and bright the following day, gazing at it, I told myself, ‘That was the worst nightmare ever’. I couldn’t attend my exams because of this incident and went to consult a Neurosurgeon along with my parents and uncle at ‘Spandana Nursing Home’, Rajajinagar. His name was Dr.Sanjeev, consultant in many reputed Health Care Centers. The doctor did some tests and told me that I was suffering from ‘Epileptic Seizure’, a form of seizure which strikes mainly due to high stress, the stress maybe from anything and cold weather. I was shocked and lost for a moment. After sometime I asked the doctor what could cause this. He told me list of a few things, amongst which ‘Steroid’ was one.

I had taken steroid as a medication during my 7^th grade, due to a left eye nerve weakness. I had consulted almost all the reputed eye specialists in Bangalore starting from the one near my house to the one at NIMHANS. Eventually the verdict was that I had to go for Steroids as a treatment, of which ‘Seizures’ was one of the side effects. It struck me bad, real bad.

Some people believe in God, and some don’t. I never believed in God, but I have always believed that there is a strong power which maneuvers everything in a right path. The power is aware of what is, wrong and right, truth and lie, good and evil. But this time, unfortunately, it was really rude on me. But I never stopped believing and never gave up. I always think that if there is a thrust, there should be a crest following it. With this belief, I am awaiting for the crest to show up. And that, definitely will be the most happiest moment of my life.

Right now I am still ingesting the medication for Seizures. Unfortunately which is again a type of a Steroid. I am leading my life, hoping for good to happen. Because I never know what could strike me, when and where.

As a word of experience, I suggest not to go for ‘Steroids’. And even if you are compelled, make sure you maintain and keep your health in tact. Maintaining your mind in a calm state is very vital.

Have a nice life.