'Conversations with Kanwal' explores the trauma of undiagnosed illnesses

Sana tells Kanwal how she survived in a society telling her she would "never marry."

KARACHI: This week on talk-show series Conversations with Kanwal sees Soul Sisters founder Kanwal Ahmed returned with another real-life topic with a real-life story.

The episode touched upon the trauma of living with an undiagnosed illness. Guest speaker Sana bravely opened up to Kanwal about her struggles with extreme discomfort over 16 years, which was finally discovered to be type 1 diabetes.

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The guest speaker opened up about her struggles as a child and feeling the need to use the washroom after every class from around 9th level, which confused her teachers.

"My class fellows used to talk behind my back, about what my problem was and why I go to the washroom again and again. There was an army truck that used to pick me up to go to school, but as the drive was very far I used to ask them to stop consistently," she revealed.

Sana struggled for years. "Now, 22 years later, I can finally talk about this. Our society has a very strong negative impact on a person's personality, it takes a lot of courage to be able to stand against and talk about it," she said with emotion.

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As her condition worsened, Sana realised she would eat seven pieces of cake on Eid and her sugar levels were around 700. Her condition, still unknown to her, hit breaking point when she took a flight and couldn't breathe.

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"I thought at some point this is the last breath I will take. I remember praying at the time, asking God to not let me die today," Sana said to Kanwal. Suddenly, the flight plan changed its course to Multan and the plane had to land.

"I thought it was a miracle. My parents rushed me to hospital, where  went into a coma. Finally, the doctors took my blood and found I have Type 1 Diabetes," Sana revealed.

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The doctors told Sana's parents that she has got into a bad condition and it would be difficult to save her. But thankfully, her organs were not affected.

Sana then experienced people's condolences and family telling her mother to get her married but to "not tell anyone" about her condition. "I told them, if a person can't accept you weakness, then that person doesn't deserve you," Sana reflected.

Although her family told Sana she could not get married and have children, Sana met her now husband Assim who she shares a child with.

"God works in mysterious ways, and miracles do happen," she concluded.

Watch the interview


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