My Inspirational Life Story

My inspirational life story

My inspirational life story
By: Mariecell M. Fornis, 26, Davao City
mariecell_0812@yahoo.com.ph

God will never give us a trial more than what we could handle. Everything that happens in our lives is God’s plan. And one of His plans for me is to be in my situation right now.

It was on the night of February 16, 2002 when my family met a vehicular accident. We were on our way home after picking up my younger sister from her JS Prom when my father tried to avoid a road construction that has no warning device and lost control. That was the cause of my loss of sight. My eyes now are both artificial.

By that time, I was a graduating student in college under the degree course of Bachelor in Computer Technology and it was about 40 days before graduation. The university has decided to give my diploma because I already have completed my thesis and met all my requirements before the accident happened.

My father and I were brought to the hospital. He had a fractured leg and went through a major operation. He used crutches for almost six months. I, on the other hand, stayed on my hospital bed for almost four months. There were bandages all over my body and I had many stitches on my head. I was with dextrose and they put a tube on my neck to help me breathe. I also had a Nasogastric Tube (NGT) inserted in my nose to feed me. For four months I didn’t take any solid foods. I couldn’t speak because they’ve put braces on my teeth to support it. I could only communicate with people through writing or by sign language. The doctors said that they couldn’t save my eyes because it may cause infection that would eventually cost my life. It would be better to lose my sight than to lose my life. The doctors have given me 60-40 chances for survival so I’m grateful to God that I’m alive right now. He gave me a second chance to live. He never left us and even sent instruments to help my family go through this tragedy.

While still in the hospital my friends, professors, relatives, neighbors and the rest of my family were there to give me enormous support. They never left me. They all made me feel so special and that gave me an assurance that I wasn’t alone. Also, I’ve met new friends and until now they are here for me. I thank God because I came to know them through my situation. They all helped me on my financial, emotional, physical and spiritual struggles.

My eagerness in life has motivated me to move on. Soon as my fractured legs were healed and I was discharged in the hospital, I went to the Davao School and Rehabilitation for Visually Impaired. There, I studied Braille while having 7 reconstructive surgeries on my jaws. When I already learned on how to write and read Braille, they endorsed me to the Rotary Foundation Computer Skills Training Center to pursue my studies in computer. It enabled me to apply all my knowledge and skills on computers, as being a graduate of Bachelor in Computer Technology at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City.

The Rotary then introduced me to the UCCP Social Concern Foundation for my Mobility Orientation. Right now, I can already manage to walk by myself using my cane. While having my studies in Rotary, I also went to Resources for the Blind, Inc. for my further studies in computer and for my personal needs like Braille paper, Braille magazines, and others.

After I have finished my computer trainings here in Davao, I went to ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment for Visually Impaired to pursue my studies in computer and to have greater job opportunities. Training with ATRIEV in Manila, gives me new career options and gives me more optimistic attitude toward my future. While having my training with them, they hire me as their corporate transcriptionists. Right now, I do a home based transcription.

Now I know that even though I’m already blind I can still do things person without disability do. It is only my eyes that are gone. I feel so blessed and thankful that God put me into this situation because through my disability I’ve come to know special people and new friends. And I have received opportunities and gained achievements that I never had when I was still sighted. These opportunities even brought me to Manila where I rode on a plane for the very first time. I’m also proud to say that I can still manage to bake some cakes and pastries.

Aside from these, I am now also equipped with some of the latest technologies for the blind. I now have a personal computer with JAWS and a Nokia 6600 cell phone with Mobile Speak. These devices were all gifts from the people I’ve met because of my disability. It helps me to become more independent in my life. It has the biggest part of my success right now. I can navigate through computers, surf in the net, check my email, chatting with friends using a screen reader and even texting. Without this aids, I won’t be able to work independently.

Everything that happens in our lives is God’s plan and purpose. He has plans for us even before we were born. In Christ we can do all things because He is the one who will provide us the strength to face anything that comes our way. I don’t see my disability as a hindrance to my success; instead I see it as a challenge to strive better. All we have to do is surrender our lives to the Most High, our Lord Jesus Christ. Have faith and trust in Him and He will do the rest. My situation right now is my cross that I will carry on for the rest of my life. But this cross becomes a blessing in my life. It helps me to experience the love of my family, relatives, neighbors and friends. It helps me realize that God is good and He really does miracles here on earth. Though He didn’t restore my sight he never left me in the midst of my struggles. He showered me with lots of blessings so I can live with my disability without difficulty. Right now I have so much joy, love, care and blessings from God. I believe that I have become a blessings to others because of the inspiration they feel when they see how I have been facing this life’s challenges.