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Lucy HawkinsBritish assistant manager with Bell's palsy
Country:
 Great Britain |
Biography of Lucy Hawkins
Lucy Hawkins, a 20-year-old British assistant manager, has become more confident in herself despite facing the challenges of Bell's palsy, a condition characterized by facial paralysis. She has learned to accept her condition and no longer feels self-conscious when her smile is asymmetrical. In fact, Hawkins has chosen not to seek any medical treatment and believes that her illness has allowed her to gain greater confidence in herself.
Hailing from Leeds, England, Lucy Hawkins has had Bell's palsy since she was a baby. Doctors diagnosed her with the condition when she was just three months old. However, Hawkins did not experience any negative effects until she turned seven. She firmly believes that her condition, which has caused the muscles on the left side of her face to be immobile, has made her a stronger and more confident woman. She has never sought medical assistance and does not plan to do so in the future. According to her, Bell's palsy is a part of her identity, and any changes to her appearance would mean losing a part of herself.
Hawkins recalls first noticing her Bell's palsy when she was around seven years old. Her parents had told her about the condition but did not make it a tragedy. She remembers watching a television program about Bell's palsy and realizing that it reflected her own experience with her face. While Bell's palsy can cause physical discomfort, Hawkins refuses to let the illness define her. She has become more confident in herself and her reversed smile. As a child, she played the trombone, which helped strengthen her facial muscles. Currently, her Bell's palsy only manifests when she is exhausted or stressed, but she has learned to cope with these challenges and has no desire to change.
Despite occasionally facing negative reactions from others, Hawkins feels more confident than ever with her Bell's palsy. People often stare at her when she walks down the street, smiles, or engages in conversation, but she cannot help but notice their reactions. However, she firmly believes that Bell's palsy is an integral part of her identity and is not willing to change. While she faced some comments during her early school years, she learned to ignore them and became even more self-assured. This mindset will stay with her for the rest of her life, just like her Bell's palsy.
Hawkins has a message for those who also have Bell's palsy: they are all beautiful just the way they are and do not need to change for anyone. She acknowledges that it can be difficult at times, but overcoming obstacles makes individuals stronger and more capable of navigating their lives. Hawkins has experienced ups and downs with her condition but knows that she does not need to change and that people should accept others as they are.
Bell's palsy is the most common form of facial paralysis. Symptoms range from sudden weakness in the facial muscles on one side of the face to dryness in the mouth, excessive drooling, speech difficulties, and trouble eating and drinking. Some individuals may also struggle with the inability to close their eyes on the affected side, leading to increased dryness, eye infections, ulcers, and even blindness. According to the UK's NHS, 70% of individuals with Bell's palsy fully recover, either with or without treatment. Approximately 30% experience residual muscle weakness, while 20% continue to have long-term issues with Bell's palsy. The condition affects one in every 5,000 people, most commonly between the ages of 15 and 60.
