When COURAGE overpowers tears...

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

The world is full of peril with untold dangers and it is the fate of mortal man and woman to have to face and endure these dangers. Calamity takes many forms. And whatever form it may take, you are faced with a choice to succumb, for we succumb in many ways, or to be brave and persevere; fight the good battle. And when you find that wellspring of courage in your heart, it helps you in your daily battles. Every day we hear of brave deeds of real people like us. And Achala Priyadarshani is very real and very courageous.

Sometimes the tears bottled up in your heart may not be evident to the rest of society but only you realize that it is there. And these tears in your heart are not a sign of weakness. In fact those tears are your greatest strength. Your greatest strength is that you can feel such pain. Achala Priyadarshani, final year student of the Law Faculty, University of Colombo went through the very traumatic experience of losing her arm.

“I fell down the stairs at my home. I was admitted to hospital and the Plaster of Paris which was applied was too tight. Then it was removed and I was sent to the National Hospital Colombo. Three operations were performed and with the attempt of saving my life they decided to amputate my arm. The biggest challenge I face is recovery. This is not just physical trauma but mental as well,” said Achala.

Ambition

Achala’s future ambition is to become a legal officer. “After this situation in a way that I never envisioned, a foundation was formed for me. Alliance Insurance are ready to give me a chance in their corporation of being a trainee legal officer. I still have not thought of taking legal action. An inquiry is in process. We are carefully monitoring the results of this legal inquiry and see if justice is done. To do the Faculty Final exams and College Final exams, I have been provided facilities with a typist. When I dictate that person types, and by the end of this year I can finish the Faculty and College exams.”

“I don’t know where I get my courage from. This is the way I face the situation that has arisen. So a lot of people say that I have courage. I think this must be so. I derive happiness from the thought that people see me and feel that they can surmount the obstacles in their life, like I am doing. My secret must be the fact that throughout my life I have faced obstacles. My mother who is working in Lebanon coming to visit me in mid February is a huge strength for me. A mother is a lifeline for us all. My mother being near to me - what more could I want?”

Strength

“People have different ways of facing these problems. This is the way I face my problems. I don’t want people to feel sad around me. Maybe it is because of this very attempt that I have made up my mind so quickly. My other strength is my friends. Like my parents and relatives they keep my spirits high. They have played a vital role in my path to recovery- my school friends and my faculty friends. When they heard what happened to me they put everything aside and came to see me. They motivate me,” she said.

Her little family consists of her mother, father and brother. Her brother is married, with his wife and his two children. Her Account number is WKA Priyadharshani, BOC Visaka branch 74280067

“There is an inquiry going on. I cannot comment on this now. Let them come up with certain recommendations. The inquiry team will come out with the recommendations” said National Hospital Director Anil Jasinghe.

The government has promised to pay the bill for an electronic arm for Achala and for relevant treatments. However this is only half the battle. More funds are required for Achala’s physiotherapy.