It’s been almost a year since I saw something that changed my perspective on life, forever.
It was a regular evening in December, and I was getting ready to prepare dinner. As is what happens in between most tasks, I began scrolling through my Instagram. That’s when I first came across Sonia’s story.
At first she seemed like a regular teenager, but when I found out what she had been going through, my heart sank. The text in the video read, “Does holes in her heart mean death for this single mother’s daughter?”. Sonia was suffering from a rare heart condition, congenital heart disease, along with atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation.
These were all illnesses which I had never heard of. I couldn’t even imagine what the young girl had to go through, suffering from pain most people haven’t even heard of.
I felt paralysed by the pain in the video.
Sonia was determined to contribute to the society’s growth. Passionate and ambitious – she had everything it could take to make her dreams come true.
Except for the luxury of time.
So when the video ended with how every contribution can help save her life, I was more than determined to help. After doing some research, I found out that the video was shared by ImpactGuru – a medical crowdfunding platform that helps patients such as Sonia receive medical attention. I made a donation, and hoped that the little one would get the help she needed.
We rarely, if ever, stop to take a minute and express gratitude for being healthy. A year ago, when I read about Sonia, I developed an appreciation for life like never before. Now, after watching her laugh and live a happy childhood, I am not just brimming with gratitude, but also hope.
Hope, that there is kindness in the world, and that every single kind deed can have life-saving consequences. I am going to carry Sonia’s story with me throughout my life, making sure I learn something from the spirit and courage she showed, and never give up hope.