'Paralysis gone thanks to tsunami'<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nBanda Aceh<\/p>\n
Sixteen-year-old Farida is a pretty girl with bluish-brown
\neyes. She comes from Lamno district, Aceh Jaya, an area populated
\nby Acehnese with Portuguese blood.<\/p>\n
She does not live with her parents in Lamno, but stays with an
\nolder sister in Lingke, Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Farida used to be paralyzed and relied on her sister to take
\ncare of her.<\/p>\n
\"My sister loved me despite my paralysis,\" she said.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 26, 2004, a massive earthquake sparked a tsunami that
\ndevastated Aceh. This disaster miraculously changed Farida's
\nlife.<\/p>\n
After the earthquake struck, Farida was sitting on the terrace
\nof her sister's house. She remained there, unable to do anything
\nas everybody else panicked and shouted that a giant wave was
\ncoming.<\/p>\n
A busy area, Lingke is only one kilometer from the sea. When
\nthe tsunami reached the area, people fled in a panic.<\/p>\n
In a few minutes Lingke was empty as residents, including
\nFarida's sister and neighbors, looked for somewhere safe.<\/p>\n
In the deep silence, Farida heard the booming sound of the
\nsurging water and the clanging sound of falling objects. The
\nsounds got louder and louder, making her hair stand on end.<\/p>\n
\"I tried to get up and said 'Bismillah' (In the name of God)
\nand the 255th verse of The Cow, a chapter in the Koran. Then I
\ntried to walk,\" she said, her eyes welling up with tears.<\/p>\n
Miraculously, Farida was able to stand up and run. The surging
\nwater, however, caught up with her.<\/p>\n
\"I kept reciting the prayer as the water rolled over me. I
\nthought I was dead. Even if I had died there and then, I would
\nhave been happy because I was able to run,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Farida survived the waves. When she was later reunited with
\nher friends and sister, they could not believe their eyes: Farida
\ncan walk!<\/p>\n
\"Since then, I have been resolved to teach people how to
\nrecite the Koran.\"<\/p>\n
\"I often feel frightened when I remember how the huge tidal
\nwave came rolling after me and I was left alone,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/paralysis-gone-thanks-to-tsunami-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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