Triump Through Art
Born and raised in Dandora slums, she was like any other teenager, soft-spoken, shy, full of dreams and aspirations, but she carried a weight that most of her peers didn’t understand – Nellius struggles with epilepsy.
Since she was young, her life had been punctuated by seizures. Sometimes they were small tremors, barely noticeable to anyone but her, and other times they were violent convulsions that left her exhausted and disoriented. Through countless doctor visits, medications, and lifestyle adjustments, she has fought to reclaim control over her own body.
Despite the challenges, Nellius found solace in her talent. From the moment she could hold a crayon, she pours her heart and soul into her drawings and paintings. Her art is her preferred voice, expressing emotions that are difficult to put into words. But there is one aspect of her life that she has never dared to portray – her seizures.
With the ongoing heavy rainfall, she is not comfortable with the “BLESSINGS” that come with it. For her, every drop of rain and overprotruding rays of sunshine is a big burden as changes in weather is a major triggers to her seizures. One stormy evening, as she was walking home after psychosocial classes at youth on the move, the lightning danced across the sky and the thunder roared like an angry beast. Nellius found herself in the grip of a particularly fierce seizure. As her body convulsed and her mind spiraled into darkness, she felt a surge of creativity unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
When she finally regained consciousness, she rushed to her easel and began to paint. With each stroke of her brush, she captured the chaos and confusion of her seizure being trapped in a storm with no end in sight. It was raw and unfiltered, a true reflection of her inner turmoil.
With the help of her colleagues at youth on the move, she uploaded a photo of her painting to her social media accounts, along with a heartfelt caption explaining the inspiration behind it. The response was overwhelming. Messages poured in from friends, family, and strangers alike, expressing their admiration for her bravery and their newfound understanding of epilepsy. Some shared their own experiences with the condition, while others simply offered words of encouragement and support.
She realized that she had found a way to share her experience with the world. Emboldened by the love and feedback form people all round, she got the confidence to continue her candid dates with her canvas, painting a clear picture of what epilepsy is.
With the support from youth on the move, she has organized exhibitions, and even collaborated with medical professionals to raise awareness about epilepsy.
Through her art, she shows the world that epilepsy is not something supernatural, but something to be understood and accepted. And though her journey is still far from over, she knows that as long as she has her paintbrush and canvas at her hand, she will always have a voice!
