Rajkumari was certain of one thing, and it weighed on her more than any diagnosis: she carried an evil spirit inside her.
She grew up in Pokhari Village, in northern India, hearing that her uncle suffered from the same unexplained seizures. When she began having episodes, no one thought of seeing a doctor. They called a healer, because medical care in her remote area was almost impossible to access and even harder to afford. She sought refuge in the home she shared with her mother and hid what was happening to her to endure the stigma.
What no one knew was that she had epilepsy, a neurological condition that affects nearly 50 million people worldwide. According to ReSurge, up to 70% could live free of seizures with proper diagnosis and treatment. Rajkumari’s seizures led to a fire-related accident that left her with severe burns and required 5 months of intensive care. She received free care from local surgeon Kush Aeron, with financial support from organizations such as ReSurge and Helping Hands.
Today, she is 17, cares for Whisky, the kitten her uncle and sister gave her, and has returned to preparing dal, chapatis, and rice without fear of the flames. Her name means “princess” in Hindi. And she says it herself: “I know my seizures weren’t caused by spirits, and I have support”.