My name is Farhana Arshad. I was born to Mr. Arshad Iqbal and Mrs. Farhat in 1978 in Karachi, Pakistan. My parents told me I was born normally but when I was hardly 4 or 5 months old 
unfortunately I fell down from my cot and perhaps at that time my ear nerves got damaged or may be due to any other reason. ALLAH knows better. When I was three years old my parents and other relatives especially my grandparents realized that I am not talking like other children so they took me to an E.N.T specialist. After the checkup, doctor told that not all but some of my ear nerves have damaged due to some reason so nerves are not able to convey the voice massages properly therefore I cannot hear properly and he also told that there is no treatment possible at this time to replace the nerves. Use hearing aid and lip-reading is the only way that she can understand you. This news shocked my parents. I give attribute to my parent that they did not give up and did not leave me alone. My mother told me, that at that time she promised herself (with the help of ALLAH) she will help me in my education and will make me able to pass at least 10th grade and for this she started her struggle. It was very difficult to get admission in a normal school but ALLAH helped us and finally I got admission in Children Montessori Center. School Principal and all teachers were very cooperative but here my mother helped me a lot. She forgot herself and gave full attention to me. She taught me how to read, how to write and also how to pronounce the words and the meanings of those words.
Think! How hard and difficult time it was for her but she did it all for me. My first school exam started she became so tensed but when result was announced, I got 97% marks and stood 1st among the normal children, my mother was surprised and very happy. This was my first achievement and this was also my first step towards my success.
After that I struggled a lot and faced many difficulties, I passed my 10th grade from Army Public School. Meanwhile my parent came to know about a speech therapist (I don't want to mention her name) she did her course from America, my parents went there but her fee was very high and at that time my parents couldn't afford it and she even wasn't much bothered to help me. And not only she… I think every speech therapist demand high fee which are not affordable for even middle class. I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive her (because I am heartbroken).
Here I want to ask one question, Is it only right for the children of rich that they can get treatment? Why all doctors are so selfish? Is the money everything for them?
If that speech therapist would have helped me at that time, it might have been possible for me to live in this society like all others who can communicate normally.
But ALLAH always helped me. ALLAH is Great .After passing 10th grade, I got admission in the college here I met Mariam Ali soon she became my close friend. She is a sweet, loving and friendly girl. She helped me and took care of me a lot. I think, she is my true and only friend. Unfortunately, she left that college for some reason. After that I felt so lonely, because I fond every girl selfish. Whenever they wanted notes or any other favor from me they showed that they are my friends but after that they left me alone. This thing was disheartening but encouragement from parents and teachers made me able to complete my graduation in 2nd division.
After a year, I got admission for Diploma in Information Technology in a college on my father's advice. According to him, studying computers will help me a lot. I got highest marks in my badge and I think when I saw my mark sheet this was the time when I realized I am not a useless person. I can do everything (with the help of ALLAH) I should struggle a lot to become a successful person; once I will become a successful person nobody can ignore me.
Then I took admission in M.A Economics in DHA College for women, Karachi. It was also a very hard time for me because the subject was difficult. Lack of communication facilities for people like us was the most frustrating chapter of my life while growing in Karachi. Lip-reading, which was my most successful tool for communication, did not help when people spoke too fast for me to follow up with the pace of lectures, conversations or face to face guidance. But again I say my teachers were also cooperative. Only for me they used to write points on blackboard which I used to note and utilizing those points I made my own notes and assignments with the help of internet research and reference books. My teachers appreciated me a lot and used to give my example to other students and gave me a lot of encouragement. Same situation was here teachers were very cooperative, girls were also cooperative but I could not make any friends. I also felt lonely there.
I passed my M.A Economics in 1st division with two Distinctions for which I was also awarded certificates from DHA College for Women, Karachi. I am very thankful to ALLAH. This was the most happiest moment in my life.
After that my mother started thinking about my marriage and I wanted to do job but here we also faced many difficulties. I got calls for interviews from many reputable organizations due to my impressive academic record but as soon as they came to know about my hearing they rejected me. Meanwhile I also got many proposals for marriage but was rejected later because no one wanted to marry me because of my hearing loss. But ALLAH is great. He helped me and fortunately I and my mother met Ms. Amina Asif Siddiqui, Director and Audiologist and Speech Language Therapist, at a College of Speech Language Therapy. She is a very helpful and cooperative person, she realized my problems. She struggled a lot for me and at last she was successful to get a job for me in her College of Speech Language Therapy. She is a nice lady and I will always remember her in my prayers. Now I am working in that College of Speech Language Therapy as a Speech Language Therapy Software expert. I am also working at home on IT projects online as a Freelancer from USA.
Here all my colleagues are very cooperative and caring especially I wanted to mention the name of Dr. Mariam Syeda, Speech Language Pathologist and Mr. Shahid Ali, Speech and Hearing Clinician.
At the end of my story I find it very essential for me to mention the name of my younger sister Huma who helped me a lot. Whenever I faced any problem or I became worried she not only released my tension but also tried to solve my problems. I started trusting her since my childhood and still rely on her. Although she got married and she is not living with us but whenever I have any problem I call her.
I am very thankful to ALLAH to provide me with opportunities and made me able to live in this society with honor.
I am very thankful to my family that they help me a lot and give me a lot of love and affection.
I am very thankful to my true friend Mariam Ali that she cared for me and supported me.
If you try to work hard relying on yourself and Allah, you will be success.
Farhana Arshad
contact her at sweetysweet600@hotmail.com or send feedback to info@danishkadah.org.pk
