This is the personal story of Miriam shared through our web to explain to the world her fight against epilepsy
I was born on July 3, 1958. During my childhood, I had many episodes that no one associated with epilepsy (absences, gut pain coupled with the loss of consciousness and stiffness of the extremities). When I was 17 I had two seizures on the same day, one on a bus and the second at home. My parents then made the decision to take me to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with epilepsy.
They didn’t get the medication right, because four years later I had a seizure again. I was already married and we went to another doctor. I’ve been taking it ever since. No one has ever given me special treatment for having epilepsy for better or worse.
Epilepsy is a disease to which literature, cinema or religion have done no favours
I’ve been very scrupulous with life guidelines and medication. I’ve done everything I’ve ever wanted: sports, dancing, singing, studying, being a mother… I’ve lived to the fullest. Epilepsy is a disease to which literature, cinema or religion have done no favours for the way others see us. Even today, in the 21st century, it is a disease that carries brutal stigmas. Thank you for thinking about our well-being.