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praying for the best, & preparing for the worst

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praying for the best, & preparing for the worst
timbuktu
04/09/05 at 13:46:35
[slm]

:) I have now deleted the contents, but any advice is still welcome.
04/21/05 at 09:21:41
timbuktu
Re: preparing for blindness
Rahima
04/09/05 at 14:58:06
[slm]
Firstly i want to say that i just joined madinat and your post happened to be the first one i came across. coincidently before i joined i had just read the article below, which i hope will help in some way inshaallah even just as a encouraging force. Allah knws best.
Your sister in Islam :-)
Re: preparing for blindness
Rahima
04/09/05 at 14:59:10
GAZA, March, 7, 2005, (WAFA) - Amani Al-Hissi, a 25-year-old Palestinian blind woman from the poor refugee camp of Al-Shati ("The Beach") in Gaza, studies Arabic literature, plays music, works as a radio presenter and depends on "help your self" as her strategy for managing the details of her own life.

Ms. Al-Hissi, was shot by an Israeli soldier while she was six years old. One week after the shooting, she lost sight in one eye. Four years later, she completely lost her eyesight.

Two hundred meters from the Gaza shore, in the alleys of the camp, Ms. Al-Hissi hosted us in her two-room house.

With black sunglasses, she was confidently moving between the rooms and the kitchen as if she suffered no problem in her sight. She began talking to us about her distinguished success at university. "Now I am studying literature at the Islamic University (of Gaza) and compete with my colleagues, I have 98% accumulative average," she said, smiling.

"Actually I like literature and arts, I work at (the local) Voice of Youth radio station as programme presenter. I present Birds at the Window, a weekly programme which deals with creative writing and arts for youth.

"I think my wound has a role in increasing my horizon of imagination and the talent of writing. I mean that the point of despair was turned into the point of hope and creativity."



Amani reads a poem she wrote from a braille sheet. (Photo: Sami Abu Salem)

She took us to her room. Through systematical movement, she passed her forefinger on protrusions on Braille paper and read one of her poems.

In a corner of the home, an old wooden staircase leads to a third room. She went upstairs to bring down her old-fashioned accordion.

Later, she offered us a drink and confidently went to the kitchen to put the kettle on the cooker and carefully listened to the sound of water as it boiled.

Ms. Al-Hissi thinks that loosing her sight was one of the turning points in her life. She also believes that God bestowed her with abilities and skills to overcome this dilemma. She cooks, bakes, fries, washes clothes, plays music and does everything without help from others.

Answering a question on how she could realize that the bread or the fried potato is ripe? She said: "I depend on my s enses to implement the principle of [help your self]. Through my senses I control everything."

Regarding her feeling with disability, she sighed and said: "I think it is really difficult. Imagine, the sea is just 200 meters far from our house but I can not see it. But, honestly, when I remember the people who lose their life or their children, or became quadriplegic during Israeli incursions, I feel am okay."

Ms. Al-Hissi recalled the days she lost her eyesight. She remembers the Israeli soldier who shot the teargas grenade at her during the 1987 Intifada.

"It was on 18 December 1987 when I was six years old. I was at my home, the Israeli soldiers were on the roof of a building close to our house, where they could clearly could see that I am just a little girl," she recalled. "One of them directed his gun at me and shot a metal gas bomb. It struck my left eyebrow, my blood streamed out, and I inhaled a big amount of gas and went into a coma. I will not f orget that day,".

After one week, Al-Hissi list sight in one eye. And after four yours, she became blind.

"It was one of the unforgetable days. I was in the fourth elementary class, going to school with one eye, seeing the roads, my friends and enjoying our neighbouring sea. While I was at school, I had a headache and felt gloomy. The sight in my other eye failed and I returned home blind."



Amani Al-Hissi sits with her accordian. (Photo: Sami Abu Salem)

At the beginning, Ms. Al-Hissi faced several problems, especially concerning education. Her parents were in a shock, hesitant about whether she would be able to continue studying or not. The situation gave her a huge sense of challenge. Seeking different sources of knowledge, she has attended training courses on playing music, first aid, and many others. "Such sense pushes me to challenge the Israeli attempts to defeat me" she added.

The father, Kamil Al-Hissi 55, said that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) did their best to abort his attempts to get urgent treatment for his daughter, and to hide evidence proving their involvement in the crime.

When his daughter was shot, he headed to see the Israeli commander of Gaza, who threatened him and ordered him not to tell anyone that the little girl was shot by an Israeli soldier.

Her f ather took his daughter to Saint John's Hospital in Jerusalem. Traveling between Gaza and Jerusalem requires passing through Beit Hanoun (Eretz) checkpoint, where an Israeli officer demanded Kamil Al-Hissi come for a meeting.

"The officer tried to make a deal with me. He said that he is ready to help me to get advanced treatment for my daughter, but under one condition, that I become a collaborator. I refused."

The father tried to prosecute the IOF but he was unable, as Israeli soldiers had stolen the medical report from the hospital.

Amani's mother, Samira, 50, said that the story of her daughter shows that Israeli soldiers need a lesson in humanity. "One day, I tried to travel to Jerusalem and asked for permission from an Israeli officer in Gaza."

"He said, 'I wish all Arabs would be blind'," she recalled.

On the occasion of the International Women's Day, Ms. Al-Hissi said that she wished to send two messages to both Palestinian and Isr aeli women.

She called on Palestinian mothers to have more patience, to challenge the arrogance of the Israeli occupation with their will in order to achieve their dreams, and to take care of their children.

As for the Israeli, Al-Hissi said, "I hope that the Israeli woman protects her son and does not allow him to join the occupation army. Because if he did so, he may kill children and maybe blind a girl."

As for her reaction, in the event of meeting the Israeli soldier who shot her, Al-Hissi said, "I will shake hands with him, and tell him 'thank you'
Re: preparing for blindness
Mona
04/10/05 at 08:30:17
[slm]

subhana Allah! why do you give up so easily?  cataracts can be treated with surgery.  don't wait until there is more damage to the eye nerves.

you are saying that you cannot afford to go abroad to have the surgery done there.  so work on this problem, not whether what to do when you  lose sight completely.  

as far as i know, the uk has a government subsidized health care system, like canada.  so since you are a citizen of the uk, you won't be charged as much.  people living in uk can give us input here, insha'Allah.  as for the asthma medications, take them with you to the uk.  you don't have to stay there for too long.    

i just had an idea though.  do you have relatives in saudi arabia?  can you ask them about the possibility of having surgery done there? there are very good hospitals in riyadh and jeddah.  you can go there on an umrah's visa.

and don't be shy about asking for money.  it is not like you have too many other options open to you right now.

i urge you to investigate options to have the surgery very soon.  i will be travelling later tonight and will keep you in my duas insha'Allah.  

as for survival skills, i am not sure what you have available at your end.  there are software that can read stuff on the computer for you.  if you have microsoft windows on your computer, you should have a piece of software called microsoft narrator (start menu --> accessories --> accessibility--> narrator).  as for written documents, you can scan them and most new scanners come with a character recognition software that may convert the scanned image to a word document. of course this is all good for english documents so there is a limitation there.

and by the way, this is the first time i have heard of this.  i had no idea.

take care.
wassalam
04/10/05 at 08:57:17
Mona
praying for the best, & preparing for the worst
timbuktu
04/11/05 at 09:29:50
[slm] I am glad I asked for advice. I am already getting ideas and info I did not have.

sis Rahima, welcome to Madina and thanks for that uplifting story.

sis Mona, [

Now let me write out a reply to your very thoughtful response. I liked this idea of yours: [quote]as for the asthma medications, take them with you to the uk.  you don't have to stay there for too long.[/quote] wonder why I miss the most obvious solution.

About retina and cataract: as far as I know, retinal detachment is not directly linked to the cataract in the eye. High myopia is, and the complications due to myopia will remain even after the replacement of the lenses.

From what I understand, cataract is either corneal, or lens. I have lens cataract, and I am fortunate that this is developing pointwise. The problem is that high myopia has resulted in liquefaction of the vitreous (glassy) humor that lies between the lens and the retina. I hadn't heard of retinal attachments here until it was introduced in Rawalpindi, and as I said it wasn't successful. But I have just had a conversation with my sister in Karachi, and she says there is good eye surgeon there who does retinal reattachments. His waiting list for an appointment is at least a month and a half. It is a lead worth pursuing.

Despite a 90% success rate, the results for retinal reattachment from everywhere including abroad, are not very encouraging. I understand why. The retina is a membrane with sensors for light. When detachment occurs, or there is a weakening, you reattach or reinforce by pulling together the retinal membrane, and "soldering" it to the optic nerve. That causes the remainder of the membrane to become thinner, and the density of the sensors on the membrane also diminishes. That is why the quality of vision would be lowered, and the risk of another tear in the retinal membrane will be greater.

so, I think my eye surgeon is quite right in delaying the operation for the cataract, but I will investigate the doc at Karachi.

I was told that if people are away for too long from the UK, they have to be resident in the UK for a substantial period (perhaps six months or more) upon their return, before they qualify for any social security benefits. I have to find out if National Health Service comes into that category.

Although Health care is subsidized by the UK government, the service is under heavy pressure, and there is a long wait, people just decide to use private services, because that is quicker and often better, although there is fleecing in that, too. I have lost my National Health card. I don't even remember which GP I was registered with last, or even where. Anyway, he may be dead or retired by now. He was quite old when I saw him. I have been away from the UK for nearly 30 years. :)

I searched the net, and got a fairly long list of government and non-government organisations dealing with disabilities, particularly blindness.

No, I don't have relatives in SA. And I am at a loss to understand why SA would perform operations free for visitors? From what I know, their services are feeling the worldwide squeeze. The University in Dahran used to provide free accomodation and subsidised meals to foreign student; now it does not.

Thanks for pointing out the software. I wonder if it is available in windows 98, and will a Pentium -I be good enough.
04/21/05 at 09:00:23
timbuktu
Re: preparing for blindness
Rahima
04/11/05 at 17:48:13
[slm]
Br timbuktu, i'm happy that you found the story inspiring. i just want to say that i really admire the dignified and courageous way that you dealing with this "test" and i only hope that Allah will fill me and others with such courage and dignity should i ever come across such a difficult and painful trial. I urge you to see blindness not as a curse but a great gift of mercy from Allah, i say mercy because it is like a sheild, protecting you from numberless sins that come with sight. sight is very superficial. we can only imagine the heights of imani and closeness to Allah that come with loss of sight which is more delicious than any of the five senses. But do not resign your self brother, put your trust and faith in Allah, which i'm sure you already have. Jazakallahu Khairan and may Allah forgive us for our sins.
Rahima :-)
Re: preparing for blindness
sal
04/12/05 at 15:28:52
[slm]
Bro Timbuktu

first of all  do you have to believe this time what they told you after what you been  told many many years ago?,so this may also take such a long time to become true or may not happen  

But If any way this becomes true is it only eyes that we see things with ? Eyes see everything but some times we need if we have filters to not see everything ,but we can see the real good things even without eyes .so there are new way of seeing things and if so I don’t think there is such a big need to eyes as flashlights if this becomes the fate
Eyes I think are like any thing we used to have but once we don’t have we can adapt ourselves to the new situation .

You also don’t know  if there is a wisdom behind this .we all know the story of the prophet in his very youth age before he was a prophet when he went to makkah to attend a wedding party. The people were drinking and dancing so ALLAH did  not want him see this and let him sleep the whole night among all that noises .When everything was over he woke up after sunrise .we don’t know if he was upset to miss that night since he did not know what he is going to be and what Allah meant by this until he got it later the wisdom of this slumber
Allah has shown you many things so far and he would not be unfair to block other things unless there is some thing behind this to your benefit if this becomes true. The patience to accept Allah’ will is the  first advantage that is clear and guaranteed Inshallah until now  

The only thing I can say is

If Allah wanted your eyes  to see things that will be positive to your hereafter may he let them see more
If he knows what we don’t know that might be negative for your hereafter let him choose for you the best way to see thing with his light

Ameen

praying for the best, & preparing for the worst
timbuktu
04/13/05 at 08:44:45
[slm]

brother Salem:

Thanks for these words of wisdom. I do have this weakness that I accept what physical laws predict, unless the laws are modified in the light of new evidence or interpretation. This does not mean I exclude miracles happening. In fact, I am amazed and grateful to Allah (swt) for my miraculous life so far.

At present I am just trying to explore what I can learn to do in case my sight is irreparably lost, of which there is a fair chance. I am not worried by it, at all.

deen does not mean abandoning the dunya.

Relying on Allah (swt) does not imply givng up worldly precautions and wisdom.

Pray for the best,
prepare for the worst,
and rest assured that we will find Allah as we think He is.

What is our most prized possession?
eemaan

and what else?
our minds, our health, our relatives, our friends, our work and our homes etc.

And I agree with you that should one lose a gift of Allah )swt), there will be something better in one's life, inshallah.
04/21/05 at 09:05:53
timbuktu
Re: praying for the best, & preparing for the wors
rkhan
04/13/05 at 11:33:02
[slm]

[quote] And I agree with you that should one lose a gift of Allah )SubHana Wa Ta`ala), there will be something better in one's life, inshallah.  [/quote]

...if not in this life, then in the next, inshaa Allaah

brother we all have our tests, big and small...for my brother and sister in-law it is dealing with the fatal sickness of their only son, for me it may be something very small but which may seem overwhelming because of my myopic perspective...

I have always been struck by the genuineness in your posts and your generosity of spirit in helping others...I pray that Allaah keeps you safe on your 'spread sanity in an insane world' mission

...may Allaah grant us all 'afwa and aafiyah in the deen, duniyaa and aakhirah


praying for the best, & preparing for the worst
timbuktu
04/16/05 at 14:29:09
[slm] thanks sis Reflection.

I have always lived on miracles, it seems. Cause and Effect would have meant a termination or a less comfortable life.

So, it looks like I am one of Allah's favorites :)
_____________________________________________________________________

I went today to find out about what is being done here for the partially or zero-sighted.

Most of the morning was spent looking after someone's tasks, so it was almost mid-day when I reached a place which turned out to be a school for blind children. Saw some blind children walking around. Almost everyone was away, but fortunately the Vice Principal/Deputy Director was in his office.

As I entered I noticed some ladies sitting on sofas, and talking very loudly. Some of them were blind.

I am hard of hearing, too, but the decibels seemed rather high. :)

The VP was standing in a corner, looking for some documents. As the gentleman who had guided me to his office, spoke to him, I guessed that the VP was blind.

The VP told me to wait at his desk while he came to it. And as he walked, I realised that my guess was right.

A girl was sitting with closed eyes near the VP's chair. She was reading a book in Braille. The VP asked her to wait while he catered to why I had come. After a while I found out that almost everyone was talking loudly.

Upon the VP's inquiry, I told him that there wasn't a blind child I had come to talk about, or any [articular blind person, but that I wanted to know if there was some training for adult blind or partially-sighted people.

In the government sector, he said, no, but there are some NGOs. Some good, some bad. And he was also doing some training, strictly unofficially.

He had been blind for 36 years, and is a storehouse of info on these matters.

Apparently if a disability occurs during service, one cannot be dismissed or retired, although this happens because most people do not know the law, and employers take advantage. Also, the process of redressal for this unfair dismissal is long and expensive. He quoted someone who was dismissed but fought it in the courts, and managed to get a re-instatement after three years (which is quick in this judicial system).

As I was talking to the VP, a woman came and sought his attention. Her blind son sat slumped in a chair with his head resting on the VP's desk. The son had failed again in his grade four, and the mother was worried. The VP had been told to look after this child individually, but he would send the boy to the class so that the teachers would not exclude him from the exam. I took the hand of the boy in my hand, stroked his hair, and then he gripped my hand, and we just played. After that he lifted his head up, and tried to sit straight. And he was smiling. Well, that was my good deed of the day. :)

As I heard the story, a blind guy with a white cane walked in, and took a seat on the sofa. He folded the cane, and sat there patiently. Any way, the VP said I should first get a report from an eye specialist, who works in conjunction with an NGO which is doing good work. He gave me the address of that NGO. I went there, but my driver took me to the wrong sector, and we didn't realise our mistake until we visited the school for blind children again.

At the school, the blind girl was now reading the Braille page to the VP, who was very patiently coaching her.

So, blindness needs/ teaches you patience!

After a while, I decided I shouldn't disturb this session, instead try to locate the NGO myself. As we went again to the NGO's office, I saw the sign for the street, and our mistake :)

We finally located the NGO's office. It was a residential house. A new spacious car was being taken out. A guard stood by the car. A boy (probably the owner's son) was standing near with books, and a well-heeled man came out to sit in the driver's seat. I enquired about the NGO, and the man said the offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

I realise how lucky I am that I have a company car with driver. The problem that most people face is that of mobility.
04/21/05 at 09:08:31
timbuktu


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