Nigerian actor Chidi Mokeme has revealed his struggle with Bell’s Palsy, a condition that left half of his face paralyzed, in a heartfelt account of his health journey. Speaking on the challenging experience, Mokeme recounted how he first noticed unusual symptoms some time ago.
He shared, "One morning, I woke up to my phone ringing. I wanted to reach out and pick it up, but I realized I couldn't. Like I literally couldn't move. It was quite scary," Mokeme said. Alarmed, he called his wife, who immediately thought he was having a stroke and called for emergency help. “Thank God I was in the United States at the time,” Mokeme added.
Upon being rushed to the hospital, Mokeme underwent several tests that led to his diagnosis of Bell’s Palsy, a condition that causes sudden weakness or paralysis in the muscles on one side of the face. The diagnosis required him to take a break from acting to focus on recovery, a decision he described as necessary yet difficult.
Mokeme expressed gratitude for the support that allowed him to return to the screen. "It meant so much to me to be able to come back and play my role in Shanty Town,” he said, underscoring his commitment to his craft despite the health setback.