Handicaps and Birth defects ARE NOT THE WORK OF THE DEVIL

In a world where so many people still suffer from birth defects or genetic diseases, it is sad to me that people are still so ignorant to these things, especially in Egypt. Having lived most of my life in England I never experienced so much predjudice till I came to this country. What is more sad is it is not just people i the street who judge a person missing a limb or wheelchair bound but in fact their families too. Whilst I must admit that these perceptions have improved slightly thanks largely to the campaigning and projects of Suzanne Mubarak in the field there is still a very long way to go. It is to me extremely sad that parents would make their children feel inadequate or less and encourage them to hide health problems or defects that are by no means their own choice. Such behaviour surely encourages the negative attitudes that people already hold. Whats more is that it seems that a whole set of values come with being handicapped including the fact that people seem to think if you are you are automatically deaf blind and stupid which is so ridiculous. I understand some parents would encourage their children to hide their health problems or handicaps I am sure that most of them think they are protecting their children from greater pain and predjudice that they would surely face if they were to be honest, but THAT IS WRONG. People won't change except by being taught greater understanding and being educated about the reality of these handicaps. I know what I am saying because I suffer from severe epilepsy. I was first diagnosed four years ago and I couldn't have been more shocked. Anyone who suffers from this illness will understand how awful it can be and how embarassing it is because certainly there is a total lack of understanding about it in this country. My mum who is British wanted to tell everyone for my own safety, she wanted to educate them so that if I had a seizure they would know what to do. My dad on the other hand refused point blank to let anyone know he warned me not to tell my friends and said they won't understand you will be alienated noone will talk to you they will treat you differently, you won't be able to get a job. I was shocked, I felt so low as if I should be ashamed of an illness that I had not chosen but was the will of God. My dad even refused to let his own family know and would not even tell my grandparents who at the time I was living with, even though he knew he was putting me at risk he was more worried about what people would think than of what might happen to me, of course this was a devastating thing to hear. Unfortunately for me the severity of my epilepsy meant that even with medication it was incredibly difficult for me to hide my illness. It happened multiple times whilst I was in university and whilst yes some peoples reactions were cruel and unkind most of them especially my friends were kind and understanding, they told me this doesn't change who you are your still the same its still you. What was more suprising is I suddenly found so many people I know coming up to me and telling me yes my brother has the same thing or my mother has the same thing. Suddenly I discovered hundreds of people were suffering from the same thing as me yet they had been to afraid to say anything because of the outdated and ignorant stigmas attached to it. The majority of experiences I have had have been posititive but there is still wide spread ignorance which needs to change. I will tell you a story and those of you who are not Egyptian please don't be shocked. Once I got sick whilst I was in the street I was only with one friend and she is rather small. When people saw me convulsing on the street floor I am told many people came to help. Sadly some of those people are uneducated. One man insisted that this was happening because the devil or evil spirits were inside me (something which by the way many people in this country still believe to be the cause of epilapsy). As my friend explains it the man grabbed me whilst I was still convulsing and started to hit my head violently on the floor he kept reciting verses of the Koran and bashing my head more and more violently. Of course my scared friend tried to stop him but failed to get me away from him. By this time there was blood pouring down my face not knowing what to do my friend called her brother and some other guys who came running and had to punch the guy to get the still unconcious me away from him. That day I had 17 stiches in my head and cuts and bruises all over my face. Let me make it clear this has nothing to do with Islam or religion even this is most simply IGNORANCE. After that people were even more convinced I should not speak about my condition but after this I was even more determined to educate people about these things. Pictures kept running through my mind and I wondered how many other people were being treated in the same way? So this is what I am asking Egyptians educate your families and your friends show tolerance have understanding this is the will of God it is not something from the devil nor are these people evil. One day and I pray this is not the case, it maybe your mother, your brother, your sister, your father or even you that has this problem. Would you want people to do this to you. For anyone who lives in a country where such levels of ignorance don't exist thank God and realise how truely lucky you are