Page 54 - MASALA VOL 8 ISSUE 3 DECEMBER 2016 – JANUARY 2017

People

My Heart

and I

A young woman, diagnosed with severe
20
heart problems in her s, describes how
they became a source of her strength.

For those who do not know me, my name is Sarina Pathela and
I am 26 years old. I grew up as a typical rebellious teenager and
went to the United Kingdom for university. I was fearless and
my main problems were thinking of excuses not to go to school,
procrastination and sleeping through my alarms.

However, when I hit my 20s, my life turned into a rollercoaster.
It was terrifying. I was an emotional mess and I went through
very tough times, including being shocked by a de brillator on
multiple occasions. My existence was, and still is, lled with
various ups and downs.

In my early 20s, I was diagnosed with multiple illnesses,
including epilepsy, many forms of arrhythmias, POTS and
dysautonomia, and I also had a pacemaker implanted. The
problems just came one after another. When I recovered from
one problem, the next would develop. Since then, my de nition
of a problem has changed. My previous problems were no
longer “problems”, rather my problems now became real
struggles that I actually need to deal with on a daily basis.
Are you wondering how all these illnesses evolved? Good
question. But I still do not have the answer to that, and I can
say life is lled with good and bad times. The stronger ones are
given a tougher life because they are able to deal with it. Well Life is too short to wake up with
that’s what I’ve been told at least.
regrets. So love the people who
Throughout my trying circumstances, I have learned that life treat you right. Forget about those
is too short to wake up with regrets. I have been given many
second chances in living the life I have today. I have not only who don’t. Believe that everything
fought for my life and cheated death multiple times, but I have happens for a reason. If you get a
also come out as a winner. It is not easy but it de nitely is worth chance, take it. If it changes your
the ght. Being strong is not an option for me but rather a way of
living. Some people tend to believe that being strong means you life, let it.
are cold and never shiver, but actually, the strongest are those A quote by author Paulo Coelho
who feel it, understand it and accept it on a daily basis. that inspires me every day.
So the next thing you are probably wondering is how I became For more quotes, visit www.simplereminders.com
so strong. I was actually a weakling in my teenage years and
when I started to become ill, I had an emotional breakdown

54 | Masalathai.com