Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. This is a long story so grab a cuppa.

I would like to dedicate this story to my late Dad (HarjivanDaudia 24 June 2014). Why am I doing this now, just because it feels right.

The year was 1977, because it was the Queen’s Silver Jubileeand street parties were held in East London everywhere.

One day I was at primary school in the classroom and theteacher set us an assignment with some questions on the board to complete. Theperson who answered them all correctly and handed the notebook to the teacherwould receive a prize (I can’t remember what it was all about, but enough tomotivate us all). As soon as the teacher said, “GO”.  All heads were down, silence in the room. Allbusy bees at work. It was a pin drop silence in the room.

As I got half way through the questions I thought I wasdoing well, for a split second I looked around the classroom and no one wasgetting up to hand in their questions. So I knew I only had 5 minutes max leftto complete. I cracked on with the questions 5 done, 6 done, 7 done, 8 oh crap don’tknow the answer come back to it, 9 done, 10 done. My eyes shifted from left toright without moving my head, still checking no movement in the classroom. Backto question 8 heart was beating and hands were sweating knowing I only had onequestion left. I re-read it again and the answer came to me added it in mymind, but my pencil wasn’t quick enough to follow through on paper. Just as Iwrote the last word, my left hand swooped in and grabbed my notebook. Iproceeded to stand up and saw someone from the opposite side of the room alsoget up a split second after me.

I could see they had a clear path to the teacher and I hadan obstacle in my way an empty table. This was all in slow motion as I passedaround my desk. I decided that the only way I was going to reach the teacherfirst was to jump over the desk. I put both my hands fixed firmly on the deskin front of me clutching tight my notebook. Then with one clean sweep I wouldbring both my legs together up towards my chest and swing through like apendulum to leap over the desk. All was going well until I realised I didn’thave enough force to push me through my arms, I began to tilt back and back andback. I saw the desk top, the blackboard and finally the ceiling strip lights.I smacked my head on the concrete floor. It felt like someone had gonged a bigbell and the whole room was shaking back and forth in jagged vibrations. Icould see my teacher looking over at me as I lay on the floor paralyzed and hislips were moving, but I couldn’t hear anything. Then my classmates were allpeering down at me all with worried looks on their faces. I just gazed up as ifthis was a dream, it didn’t feel real. I never experienced anything like thisbefore. That’s when I blacked out…….

When I awoke I was in an ambulance being rushed to the A&Ehospital. I had a large bump at the back of my head and it was painful if Itouched it. The hospital staff started asking me questions like, “Do you knowwhere you are?”, “Do I know my name?”, “What day is it?”. I had to wait and thinkfor a moment then I could reply to the doctor. They done the necessary checks toassure me, everything is alright and family members soon arrived and took mehome.

It was not until a year after I would wake up in themornings and then blackout, especially Mondays! (I’d always have the songplaying in my mind from the Boomtown Rats- “I don’t like Mondays”. If you don’tknow who they are, Spotify them). Could it be my brain has now re-programmeditself to not like Mondays at school….

At school it can be harsh place for kids that don't fit in, because others will tease you about your illness and not think twice about. Sometimes you begin to doubt you are not intelligent enough or normal. Because what your peers are saying to you on a regular basis.

After a seizure, I wake up in bed drained of energy and have bruises somewhere on my body. When Iasked my mum how long I was out for she would normally say 3 or 4 hours. Thishappened on a regular basis once a week. After seeing enough ambulance peopleevery week I was finally diagnosed as Epileptic and submitted to the hospital andspecialist for regular check-ups. Some say you grow out of it, others say it's with you for life! Only I know the answer.

This can be very stressful for parents as they are constantly worrying about their kids and at a very young age. I found out recently one of my friend's daughter is 7 years old and has several seizures a day. Is now going to the hospital for brain surgery. This makes me want to share this message even more for all the people that have kept silent and think they are on this journey alone. I'm happy to support people that want the support or give them some direction.

I am now recovering and probably have 1 seizure a year. Butwith the help of medication, personal development, regular exercise, diet change and meditation this helps me keep thingson track. I start most mornings these days saying what I'm grateful for in my LIFE, and in the evenings ask myself

1)Did I Live? 2)Did I Love? 3)Did I Matter?

I’m conscious this story isalready long, so for anyone interested to connect with me please do so on my LinkedIn page (HiteshDaudia) or www.hiteshdaudia.com and mention my just giving page when youcontact me.

In the meantime, it’s rare to have Epilepsy and want toshare it with the world and know it’s a personal choice for the individual. I had a tough time whether to share this or not. Itfeels right in my heart at the moment to support others and the National Brain Appeal whodo incredible treatment and care of patients with a wide range of disordersincluding multiple sclerosis(MS), brain cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease,stroke, Prion disease and head injury. More than 12.5 million people in the UKsuffer from a neurological disorder, either from birth, through injury, or aslowly developing illness. They help raise funds for The National Hospital forNeurology and Neurosurgery.

If you feel in your heart you have a few pounds to spare pleasedo donate. I understand sometimes you may think that most of the money goes into admin and not the cause. I also think like that, but sometimes a force inside you (gut instinct) will tell you this is the right thing to do....so act from your heart!

Thank you taking the time to read my story. I know we areall living in a fast economy where there is little time for ourselves as wellas each other. I hope something I have written resonates with you or someoneyou know to help take some positive action, to improve your health today nottomorrow. I would love to connect with anyone I can help, even friends near orfar I haven’t seen in years please feel free to email me. With technology thesedays it’s not difficult to connect with people across the pond.

What I have learnt along the way, you will always have obstacles or challenges in LIFE. From the moment you are born to the day you die. Nothing is impossible to achieve with the mind, it's having the belief , determination and heart inside you that counts.

If our paths have crossed at some point and you are on this fantastic journey with me called LIFE. I hope to make a difference to your life big or small. I wish you all the love and success that is coming your wayand thanks again for reading my story.

My favourite quote by Steve Jobs:- Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently - they're not fond of rules... You can quote them,disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.... 

Hitesh

P.S. Don't forget to check gift aid, it cost you nothing and the charity get a bit more. 

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