Actor and show host Denrele Edun has opened up about his ordeal with a facial stroke that impaired his physical appearance.
He revealed that the sickness shut an eye and his face distorted, forcing him to use different hairstyles to hide it.
He also said that he did not let the stroke stop him from working, even when he had another attack that affected his mobility and hair.
Denrele said he agreed to appear in a friend’s movie without telling her about his condition, as he did not want pity or sympathy.
He said: “I was very ill then, having just suffered a stroke on half of my face. It was the first time it happened but I kept working anyway. My face was sagging, I was left-handed, so it was the right side. Whenever I drank water, it would spill out, one eye was wide open, I couldn’t hear, and I couldn’t breathe. All my hairstyles masked that side so no one could notice.
“And then, out of the blue, another attack hit me. This time, I couldn’t walk; my right leg was useless, and I lost half of my hair. My friend invited me to do a cameo in her movie at that time and I hated pity so I didn’t tell her that I was unwell and unable to perform well.”
The presenter, actor, model, and dancer has been recognized with many awards including The Best TV Personality at the NEAs in New York in 2011, and Dynamix Award for Best Youth TV Personality in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
