Not losing hope despite losing eyesight
MIRI: When Fakhrul Ariffin was working at Hospital Besar Kota Tinggi in Johor as an occupational therapist, he had a dream – to work hard, get promoted, and to get married and have a happy, stable life.
However, when blurry vision and painful eyes led him to seek treatment with an ophthalmology specialist, Fakhrul got devastating news that saw his world crumble at the age of just 28.
He was diagnosed with an early stage of Retinitis pigmentosa – a rare, genetic disorder that involved a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina, or known as retina degeneration.
“The first year after diagnosis, I still had some of my eyesight. My vision depleted slowly and I had to constantly adjust to the blurry sight,” the now 36-year- old told The Borneo Post in an interview recently.
Feeling depressed, Fakhrul confessed that it reached the point of him breaking down and led to him seeking help from a psychiatric specialist.
“Losing my eyesight and slowly seeing everything I know turn dark was one thing that caused my devastation. But more importantly, I was scared about losing my job and my family,” said Fakhrul, who got married to his long-time girlfriend a year after his diagnosis.
Thankfully, he said, he stumbled by chance on YouTube videos of Daniel Kish, an American expert in human echolocation who taught visually-impaired people how to survive in society.
“I thought to myself, if Daniel Kish, who had become sightless since very young, could survive, why couldn’t I? From then on, a positive energy and determination came to me,” Fakhrul said, adding that he learnt as much as he could before completely losing his sight.
Fakhrul revealed that what he learnt made a huge difference in his life, and led to him being promoted and transferred to Hospital Enche’ Besar Khalsom in Kluang.
Recalling the seven years of ups and downs, Fakhrul shared his
The first year after diagnosis, I still had some of my eyesight. My vision depleted slowly and I had to constantly adjust to the blurry sight.
feelings of being blind and thought that perhaps, Allah has given him another way to see the world all over again.
“For now, I am at peace. Seeing things could sometimes interrupt your mind and emotions. Many a times, seeing things the way it is can make people rather judgemental as they only look at appearance.
“Losing my sight taught me to not judge people based on appearance. Even though I cannot see with my eyes, I feel with my senses – ears, nose and skin.
“The human touch and reaching out to people using words coming out of my mouth, I feel the sincerity through making conversations with people,” he added.
As an occupational therapist, Fakhrul has started a programme that helps those who had just lost their eyesight, offering training and at the same time, sharing his experience.
“One of my students has become the head of an NGO (nongovernmental organisation) in Malaysia, which I am so very proud of. It goes to show that I brought changes to people, taught them about life and gave them an insight of their future,” he said.
When he isn’t busy with work, Fakhrul plays music on his guitar. He said that music adds colour to his world and easily comforts him.
Fakhrul has also opened a Facebook page ‘ButaWorld’— his effort to create awareness of the blind community.
“In the page, I would share through videos, what the blind could do (to overcome obstacles in daily life) and I hope that the information given on this page
Fakhrul Ariffin
will be useful for those in need.”
Before concluding the brief interview, Fakhrul said that losing one’s eyesight and becoming blind is not the end, but rather the beginning of life.
“It means you are learning a lot of things starting from zero, like an infant. So be enthusiastic and feel the world as it is beautiful.”
Fakhrul Ariffin was in Miri recently for the ‘Occupational Therapy Workshop: Strategies for Change’ as a key speaker. The workshop was held early this month at Pustaka Miri.