Sometimes, the most painful moments in our lives make us realize who we really are?
Rather than breaking us, these moments connect us to the inner strength that we never knew existed before. And, one such story is of Sakshi Srivastava, who chose to let her challenges arouse her courage, rather than discouraging her sense of life purpose.
She was only 19 years old when she was first rushed to the hospital for her fast decreasing vision.
Even after conducting hundreds of tests – MRIs, X-Rays to CT-scans – the doctors couldn’t come up with any explanation about what was happening to this full of life teenager.
Sadly, what came next was not only shocking but also disheartening for Sakhsi and her family.
Within 10 days, Sakshi was left with only 30 percent vision.
The whole world came crashing down for this 19-year-old as she couldn’t understand what happened to her.
Recalling her troubling moments, she shared with The Better India,
“I cried my eyes out for three hours. It seemed like my life had ended. I rewound every small incident in my head, just trying to find an explanation to why it happened to me.
When I walked out, I knew my parents had cried too, from their puffy eyes. They felt so helpless, finding me in pain, but there was nothing they could have done. I had to put on a brave face if not for me, at least for them.”
Since then, she has been continuously losing her vision.
Though this condition could have broken many of us, the way Sakshi handled the ugly turn in her life is really exceptional. Rather than feeling dejected in life, Sakshi has shown the strength that very few of us can exhibit.
Today, this real hero is a social entrepreneur and is the co-founder of Bucket List, a Delhi-based NGO.
Through her venture, Sakshi has managed to give a ray of hope to almost 2,000 kids in the last three years. She has changed their lives for the better.
Talking to Metrolife, she says,
“I was still a teenager with ideas and dreams when I lost my eyesight to an autoimmune condition. I could not come to terms with people calling me ‘bichari’ and saying I would be a burden forever.”
Though now, she is just left with 8% of her vision, she is still determined to live her life to the fullest.
From entrepreneurship to paragliding, Sakshi has proved to the society that she can do anything.
While sharing how she sees her future, this brave and courageous soul shared with the Metrolife:
“Today, I am prepared for any crisis. I am down to my final 8 per cent of vision, and I know it is only a matter of time before I lose this as well. All I want to do now is live the moment,”
When life throws a challenge at us, many of us tend to indulge in self-pity and ask life – Why Me? In those moments, we tend to forget that under the cover of pain – there lies the opportunity to be stronger and powerful.
What makes us feel helpless in any life situation is not the challenge but our reaction to it.
If you know of someone who is also facing a really tough life situation, then please share this story. Sakshi story is a reflection of what we humans are capable to do if we refuse to give up to our circumstances!
And, thanks Sakshi for restoring our faith in humanity and showing us what’s the real purpose of human life.
Kisi ki muskurahaton pe ho nisar
Kisi ka dard mil sake to le udhaar
Kisi ke waaste ho tere dil mein pyaar…
Jeena isi ka naam hai
You can donate to her wonderful venture – Bucket List here.
