Background and Life Before Illness I was a healthy, independent, and active woman. I lived and worked in Johannesburg, was employed as an accountant, and led a full and joyful life. I exercised regularly, socialised, entertained friends, attended church, and managed my home without difficulty. I experienced no significant health problems and lived without physical limitations or chronic employment. I began experiencing pins and needles in my hands and feet, skin rashes, and

Can you tell us about your journey and how it all began? Most people think a diagnosis is just a word on a medical file. For me, it was a moment that completely changed how I saw my body, my childhood, and my future. At ten years old, I went from standing in line at the movies with my family to navigating hospitals, MRIs, and questions no child should have to answer. Suddenly, my life had rules and regulations — limits on movement, sport, and things I once took for granted. I

For the past 10 years, I have been living with Trigeminal Neuralgia, a rare and often misunderstood neurological disease . It is a condition that has changed my life in ways words sometimes struggle to explain. The pain is sudden, intense, and unpredictable — like electric shocks to my face. Simple everyday activities such as talking, eating, brushing my teeth, smiling, or even feeling a light breeze can trigger unbearable pain. What others do without thinking can feel like a