From Near Death Experience to Top of her Class
■ Shrdha Mala has people talking about how she overcame heart disease ■ Rakiraki Public Secondary School student says battle not over yet
T he induction of Shrdha Mala as the new head girl of Rakiraki Public Secondary School has got people talking.
Shrdha, 18, who has had a history of heart problems, is not only a student body leader, but is also a top academic student, as well.
In 2014 she survived a near-death experience. She suffered severe chest pain and acute breathing difficulties. Shrdha thought she was going to die.
She was flown to New Zealand and successfully underwent an emergency laser treatment.
Kalidass Mani, a farm worker, said Shrdha “is an inspiration to everyone and a very strong girl.” Mr Mani said he knew her family and how they struggled after she was diagnosed with a heart defect in 2008. Shrdha was in year two then.
“She is a fighter. Others may have given up after what she went through. But not Shrdha,” he said. Her mathematics teacher, Ashneel Raju, said Shrdha kept up her maths study despite her condition.
Ravi Chand, her school principal, said Shrdha was among the students who never gave up.
“She has inspired the students and the teachers with her excellent performance and is tackling her challenges very well,” he said. He said Shrdha was an examplar to many students who did not do well in their studies as she was good in managing her time with school work and with leadership. She has made the school and her parents proud by excelling in her education despite her challenges. Shrdha said her battle was not over yet, but she was not allowing it to slow her down.
She has some breathing issues and she still fights to tackle the challenge and to become an inspiration to others.
Shrdha’s experience has motivated her to become a cardiologist to treat people like her and to show them that nothing is impossible. She said if anyone had health or medical problems, they could still fight their battles and chase their dreams.
Shrdha topped the Fiji Year 12 Certificate Examination last year and she is looking forward to top this year and become the dux at her school.