My family disowned me: One man’s battle with epilepsy

By Silas Nyamweya | 6yrs ago | 3 min read

David Dudi, 32, was rejected by his siblings because of his health condition. At the age of 17 years, when he was a student at Oyugis Secondary School, he was diagnosed with epilepsy.

In addition, he had a spinal cord injury. He chats with Silas Nyamweya

You have been through a lot...

Yes. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 17 during which I suffered from epilepsy and had constant convulsions. By then, I was in Form Two at Oyugis Secondary School.

I later got a spinal cord injury, which forced me to skip school. I was given strong medication which made me feel better.

However, due to the many days I was out of school, I didn’t perform very well in my secondary education.

So, you got healed?

Not exactly. After completing my Form Four education, the epileptic attacks became more frequent and violent.

My back was also very painful. Some days, I would lie in bed, unable to move. I was staying with my older brothers in Eastleigh in Nairobi, but I always felt alone.

What do you mean ‘felt alone’?

My brothers only pretended to care about me. I think they were tired of me. They would disappear for weeks and leave me alone, with no food. For the one year I stayed with them, my health deteriorated.

Sometimes I would drag myself out of bed to scavenge for food. Luckily, there were old soda bottles which my brothers kept under the bed and I sold them to buy food.

I later learnt that I was an unwanted person in that house and they were doing that deliberately so that I could move out. Eventually, I moved out and went to live with my parents.

How did your parents handle your situation?

They tried their best. They tried all form of medication, but nothing seemed to work. They claimed I had been bewitched and took me to shags to get ‘treatment.’

But in shags I was treated like an outcast. None of my relatives dared to come near me for fear of contracting ‘my disease’. I had to come back to Nairobi. Little did I know this was the best decision ever.

Best decision in what sense?

Someone told me about a certain church in Eastleigh by the name Maximum Miracle Centre, and I decided to attend their service.

After the preaching by Pastor James Mwangi, I heeded the altar call. After the service, I experienced a great relief in my body.

My body was on fire and I couldn’t understand what was going on. I was healed! The pain I had disappeared and I never experienced any convulsions thereafter.

After a week, I went to hospital to ascertain my condition and the doctors were shocked since my health had improved drastically. It was a miracle.

Is this the reason you decided to become a full-time evangelist?

Yes. God healed me and the only way I could thank him was by serving him. I am now a full-time evangelist, although I am not paid by anyone. I preach in different estates where God directs me to.

What are your future plans?

I just want to serve God. I have already enrolled at the Burning Bush Ministries Bible College for a degree course in theology. I have already completed a diploma on the same.