Teacher Sara Busaleh’s tale of how she achieved her dream is one of dogged perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
The 23-year-old from East Riffa successfully graduated from the Bahrain Teachers College and has joined the teaching faculty at Al Monthir Bin Sawa Al Tamimi Primary Boys School in Eker.
However, obstacles and health complications have left Ms Busaleh wheelchair-bound but the tough situations she has faced between 2020 to 2024 did not break her spirit; they only made her stronger.
“Since my birth, I have always been a life-loving and energetic girl, eager to participate in various activities that showcased my talent,” she told the GDN.
“But God chose a different path for me when I was 19 years old – a path that was filled with challenges which only made me a stronger person.”
Ms Busaleh said she started experiencing severe intermittent shoulder pain in 2020.
“However, things worsened in September of that year when the attacks became more frequent, accompanied by a loss of movement in my lower body.
“During that time, I was home for a week and suffered second-degree burns to both my feet, which required me to be admitted to hospital. There, I was diagnosed with acute inflammation of my spinal cord (transverse myelitis), which left me paralysed in my lower body.”
Communicating with her student
Transverse myelitis is an inflammation of both sides of one section of the spinal cord. This neurological disorder often damages the insulating material covering nerve cell fibres (myelin). Transverse myelitis interrupts the messages that the spinal cord nerves send throughout the body.
The exact cause of this condition is often not known. But it sometimes happens after infections or in people with autoimmune diseases. Common symptoms are back or neck pain, weakness or sensation changes in the arms or legs, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Following the diagnosis, Ms Busaleh had to pause her university studies for a month, but found the will to return in full force in spite of the overwhelming shock that she felt, and with determination and persistence, she was able to achieve her dream and earn her degree.
“Despair was not an option. My mother, along with the faculty at the college, played a major role in supporting me and never allowing me to give up or stop pursuing my dream. They encouraged me to return despite my new situation, and I gradually began to catch up on what I had missed during my absence. The college’s psychological and academic support was invaluable,” she said.
“I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education and became the first wheelchair-bound graduate from the Bahrain Teachers College. My journey was full of challenges, but it taught me that willpower is the key to success.
Ms Busaleh
“I feel proud and happy to be a teacher surrounded by my students, who have showered me with love, compassion and tenderness. I aspire to leave a mark of hope in every student and contribute to graduating a conscious generation capable of representing their country and shouldering responsibility.”
Ms Busaleh encourages those who can relate to her condition to pursue their dreams regardless of the obstacles, and to acknowledge and embrace their full potential, which she believes cannot be stopped or lessened by physical illness.
“I always repeat that disability is mental, not physical. Even if a person has lost a part of their body, as long as their mind is intact, they can think and work, they are not disabled, but rather accomplished and play a major role in building Bahraini society. So, don’t let disability stand in your way, rather, let it be a springboard for you and your creativity.”
rima@gdnmedia.bh
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