Avri Gilad Updates on Bell's Palsy: Half Face Paralysed

Israeli broadcaster Avri Gilad revealed recently that he is suffering from Bell's Palsy, which has caused paralysis in half of his face. In an interview this morning (Monday) with Gideon Uko and Amichai Atali on 103fm, Gilad shared his feelings and his decision not to hide his medical condition from the public.

"I've already decided I have no concealments, and polished image work is not part of what I do," Gilad explained his decision to disclose the diagnosis. "I'm going with the simple truth. I don't have the strength to go into a burrow for a month until this passes. Instead of it managing me, I'll manage it in the best way I can."

Gilad shared that since going public he has received a wave of support: "I got thousands upon thousands of responses. Most people tell me that they also had it or their grandfather had it, and what saved him. And also many people who are happy that I'm turning the private and ugly into public and acceptable."

"I saw that one side wasn't working — it's stressful"

Gilad described the first moments when he realised something was wrong: "I had a few days of headaches that really split the brain. I didn't know what it could be, I thought widespread metastatic tumour. I woke up in the morning, looked in the mirror like a person brushing teeth, and saw it was the same veteran face I know, but with a change. One side didn't work. When I try to spit out the rinse water from the toothpaste, I spray myself because half the face is paralysed. I don't understand anything, it's stressful."

Despite the unsettling experience, Gilad emphasised that he is not experiencing anxiety. "I'm a learning person, anxieties are not part of my emotional palette. First of all learn, check. Call the doctor, and he tells me to drive immediately to the emergency centre. They ruled out stroke, gave me the diagnosis and immediately the protocol I need to receive, which is steroids in quantity and all sorts of other medications."

On the steroid treatment he added with humour: "It gives you the strength of a superman. Also a mood maybe even a bit too good, and also insane physical strength. I was at the gym and moved all the machines simultaneously. It's tremendous fun."

"Accept yourself as you are"

Referring to the impact of his spiritual studies on coping, Gilad noted: "Accept yourself as you are is the most important thing. If you accept yourself, you can accept the other and life as it is. If you hide and conceal, you don't accept anything and live your whole life beside life. Most likely I'll come out of this completely, and even if not, even if I'll be crooked, I'll try to remain with a straight heart and win with that."

In closing, Gilad connected his personal condition to Israel's public and political situation: "Just as I'm releasing the grip I have on my appearance, we all also need to release our grips in the political field. Release who said what, what they promised and what we wanted. See what's possible and what needs to be done now to move forward, and not be in the previous moment mourning it. That doesn't advance us anywhere."