"So Brave of You”: SA Woman Opens Up About Bell's Palsy Diagnosis, Mzansi Supports Her
- Palesa Kamohelo Mahlangu shared that she woke up one morning to find half her face paralysed after weeks of tonsillitis and migraines
- The South African woman said Bell's palsy affected her speech, her eye, and her ability to express herself normally
- Her video sparked an outpouring of responses from others who had lived through the same diagnosis
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Source: Facebook
Palesa Kamohelo Mahlangu, a South African woman, went public with her Bell's palsy diagnosis on Facebook on 21 August 2026. She sat in front of the camera, hair done and nails half-painted, determined to look her best despite everything she had been through.
She explained that her ordeal began with what seemed like ordinary tonsillitis and migraines that dragged on for two weeks without easing. Then one morning, she woke up, and half her face was no longer responding. Her eye felt like it was bulging out of its socket. Her mouth refused to move the way it should. And something she had never experienced before crept in: a stutter. She said in the video.
"I don't talk like that, I don't stutter, but now I stutter, guys."
Palesa's road to recovery
Palesa told viewers that she is already making progress. Each morning, she works through facial exercises to stimulate the muscles back to life and has been chewing gum consistently as part of her recovery routine. She is also considering physical therapy to support the process further. Doctors have told her Bell's palsy typically takes three to four months to resolve, though it varies from person to person.
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She was candid about the emotional weight of it all but was equally clear that she refused to let it break her. She said she came forward not to gain sympathy but to educate others about a condition many people have never heard of. She said:
"Guys, it’s unhealthy to stress and deprive yourself of rest. Give yourself grace and take a break when you need to rest."
View the Facebook video below:
Mzansi rallies around Palesa
The video drew an emotional response from South Africans who recognised her bravery and, in many cases, saw their own stories in hers:
@Kholi Sile wrote:
"I suffered from the same condition in 2021. Uzoba grand my sister. I am glad that you are not affected by the stigma attached to it."
@Sweetness Motha said:
"So brave of you to be sharing with us. Thank you 🙏🏽❤️ This means a lot because I have been overworking myself. Get well, pretty lady ❤️🩹"
@Motshidisi Mokoena shared:
"I suffered that in 2015. The most uncomfortable feeling is the constant twitch. You will be fine, my dear."
@DrCeliwe Ndaba advised:
"You need to be seen by a speech therapist for facial taping. That will also help. OTs may also do this if there's no speech therapist available."
@Buti BabaCowza Nkomo noted:
"It's very brave of you, Kamzo, to tell your story in public like this. O stara san [You are a star, sis]."
@Nelisiwe Mayisa said:
"A month back, my face lost sensation 🥹 I was so exhausted from life. I'm glad to see this and extremely grateful that it didn't get worse."
@Sizakele Twala added:
"Ohh sis, thank you so much for sharing this with us. Speedy recovery, and may God continue to shine upon you ❤️🙏🏽✨"
More Briefly News stories on stress
- A South African TikToker discussed claims that HIV statistics dropped by 76% after undocumented immigrants left the country, sparking reactions online.
- A young South African cancer patient won hearts after a video showed him entertaining himself in a hospital corridor, inspiring Mzansi with his positive spirit.
- A South African man living with kidney disease shared the harsh realities of navigating illness and poverty, moving Mzansi online.
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Source: Briefly News
