Sacheen
June 25th, 2010 | 
Author: Meet my new friend Sacheen. She is a student, an artist and a motivational speaker. She is a Native American and lives in Colorado. Now you must be wondering why after not updating my blog for so long, pop back in introducing a beautiful lady without even an apology for my disappearance from my blog. Alright, my apologies to all the nice folks out there who visit my blog. Work never ceases its oppression on me.
Sacheen is visually impaired. She was born a normal little child with perfect eyesight. But when she was in her teens, she started having problems with her eyes. She suffered low vision for three years and after numerous surgeries to fix her eyes, she went completely blind. She was not the one who would sit and despair over any loss. She went on to a school for the blind and started re-learning everything from the basics. Most of all, she learnt to be independent. What she lacks in sight, she makes it with extra sharp sensitiveness. She showed me two of her paintings and boy, I was absorbed into its depths. Honestly, I couldn’t believe she painted it. It was absolutely amazing.
She surprised me more by actually taking me all over the city. She takes the Subway, finds her way around the city, uses computers, cameras, ipods and everything else just like she could see!
She then introduced me to her friend Omar. He had low vision but he doesn’t use a cane. Omar is a walking GPS! We went to the Showmans, a bar located all the way up on hundred and fortieth Street. I had never ventured that far up the city but I did not have to worry a bit. I had two blinds leading me.
I invited them to the Himalayan Film Festival which was being screened all they way down on 14th street. No problem there again. My guides knew the subway system like the back of their palm.
If you think alright, Sacheen is amazing, you have to hear this. There was almost a chance I would have never met her. She was diagnosed with a tumor in her brain and after numerous surgeries and radiations, was give six months by her doctors. She was told she would die last April. But, she did not die! She defied death, tumors and doctors with her faith! She is still undergoing radiations and cameo-therapies and more good news – her tumor has shrunk!
Now her dreams are to complete her studies, get a job and tell her Mom that she doesn’t have to work anymore! She is taking a double major and political science. She sure is headed high. She is also working on a number of books. Yaay! She promised me I would be one of the first to get a copy.
This morning, as I hugged her to say goodbye, I didn’t want to let her go. She woke up something in me. She taught a whole new meaning to my life. Nothing, not even death can stop you if you have the faith and the will to survive. All the very best wishes to Sacheen.
P.S. I forgot to tell you that we also went to the Indy Spirit Testing. We went around and drank a shot there, sniffed a shot here when a laughing jack of a guy, approached Sacheen and commented that there was no sun in there as she had a shades on. She simply laughed it off and told him she was blind. I was fuming all evil and I stared him dirty till I evaporated the ugly smirk out of his face. Of course, the guy came back later on and apologized to her.
But she was telling me that she did not mind it at all. She had grown immune to bad remarks and ill comments. She was telling me how she found it funny that people talked to her at the top of their voice. She says; “Duh, I am blind, not deaf.’
Posted in Essays | 
Tags: coming over obstacles, independent, lesson, miracles, motivation, paintings, subway, suffering, visually impaired
3 Responses to “Sacheen”
Another P. S
I initially posted this on my blog but thought it would be good to share it here on WAB since I haven't been able to contribute anything yet.
Cheers,
Lobxang
Wonderful piece Lobxang… boy you made me too emotional. And I wish your new friend all the best in her life. Sometimes it takes visually impaired or physically challenged person to teach us much needed lessons of life. Truly inspired by Sacheen's courage and her determination, which I am sure don't possess even quarter of it.
Welcome to blog Lobxang. We all were waiting for you. And now that you are on it, we hope to read a lot more from you.
Regards
Penstar
Lobxang, I am happy that you have found your way back to the blog, (hoping that you are here to stay). I read Sacheen on your blog first but an error occured when posting the comment. Thank you for posting this inspirational story on WAB.
I must say your friend Sacheen sounds unreal, imagination, divine,… and the fact that she is real gives us ocean of inspiration. She is so beautiful. Looking forward to seeing her paintings. God must be jealous of her that He took away her sight, only to be disappointed at finding her become more powerful!
He sensitivity amazes me! You have a great guide Lobxang.