Emil Wood, better known as 'Nana Tonardo', has shared an unusual experience he recently had, when he woke up from bed with his mouth contorted.
He described the bizarre incident, mentioning that he had gone to sleep feeling fine but woke up to find his mouth twisted, which hindered his ability to swallow.
Living in the United States at the time, Tonardo was overwhelmed with fear, leading him to suspect he was suffering from various illnesses, especially a stroke.
"I had a normal night's sleep, but when I woke up, I was in a strange state. Swallowing saliva was impossible, and even drinking water was a challenge because it wouldn't go down my throat. I realized my mouth was twisted to one side. To drink water, I had to angle my head to help it go down. I had gone to sleep without any issues, but I woke up with this abnormality. I began to wonder if I had a stroke because this sudden ailment was baffling," he shared during an interview with Kwaku Manu.
Tonardo mentioned that it was his cousin from another state who hurried him to a hospital's emergency department.
He recounted how, upon reaching the emergency room, he was met with laughter from some individuals.
"I reached out to my cousin in New York, and she helped me get to a New York hospital's emergency center. There, I encountered people who laughed at me while I was in distress," he continued.
Now recovered from that illness, Tonardo expressed that the experience has altered his outlook on life.
"The recent illness that I experienced filled me with fear and has profoundly changed my perspective on life," he concluded.
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He also shared how the lengthy nine-month recovery drained his finances.
"The healing process spanned nine months, during which I exhausted all my savings. Each acupuncture treatment cost me $500, and I needed two treatments weekly. Since I don't have employment in the US, I typically travel for leisure. There was even a time when the thought of returning to Ghana was daunting because I dreaded being ridiculed," he retorted.
He also reflected on a particularly alarming aspect of his medical ordeal, as explained by his doctor.
"The most unsettling part, according to the doctor, was the unpredictable nature of my condition. I was told that my mouth might temporarily recover but there was a possibility it would never fully return to its original state. The thought that the condition could intermittently recur was quite frightening," he shared.
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