'Paralysis gone thanks to tsunami'

Nani Afrida The Jakarta Post Banda Aceh

Sixteen-year-old Farida is a pretty girl with bluish-brown eyes. She comes from Lamno district, Aceh Jaya, an area populated by Acehnese with Portuguese blood.

She does not live with her parents in Lamno, but stays with an older sister in Lingke, Banda Aceh.

Farida used to be paralyzed and relied on her sister to take care of her.

"My sister loved me despite my paralysis," she said.

On Dec. 26, 2004, a massive earthquake sparked a tsunami that devastated Aceh. This disaster miraculously changed Farida's life.

After the earthquake struck, Farida was sitting on the terrace of her sister's house. She remained there, unable to do anything as everybody else panicked and shouted that a giant wave was coming.

A busy area, Lingke is only one kilometer from the sea. When the tsunami reached the area, people fled in a panic.

In a few minutes Lingke was empty as residents, including Farida's sister and neighbors, looked for somewhere safe.

In the deep silence, Farida heard the booming sound of the surging water and the clanging sound of falling objects. The sounds got louder and louder, making her hair stand on end.

"I tried to get up and said 'Bismillah' (In the name of God) and the 255th verse of The Cow, a chapter in the Koran. Then I tried to walk," she said, her eyes welling up with tears.

Miraculously, Farida was able to stand up and run. The surging water, however, caught up with her.

"I kept reciting the prayer as the water rolled over me. I thought I was dead. Even if I had died there and then, I would have been happy because I was able to run," she said.

Farida survived the waves. When she was later reunited with her friends and sister, they could not believe their eyes: Farida can walk!

"Since then, I have been resolved to teach people how to recite the Koran."

"I often feel frightened when I remember how the huge tidal wave came rolling after me and I was left alone," she said.