During one of his regular visits to the National Spinal Injury Hospital, Harum Hassan met a newfound friend who was curious about how he lives with a disability. Harum recalls the man asking: “So you drive? And you cannot walk? Yet you’re such warm and joyful person.”
Ten years ago, Harum incurred a spinal cord injury after being involved in a car accident and has been a wheelchair user since.
“Moving about freely is not that easy. But that has never stopped me from pursuing my dreams and leading a happy life.”
One of the ways Harum lives life fully is by having acquired driving skills. Not only does he drive within Nairobi, he is able to take long trips to other cities like Garissa and Isiolo.
Finding Your Inner Strength
Harum encourages individuals with disabilities to take action and be in charge of their lives, instead of sitting back and refusing to face up to other challenges in life. “Recognise the challenge is just a matter of perception,” he advises.
“If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone somewhere. Just choose hope and anything is possible.”
Harum spent 2 years after his accident in bed. He was told by doctors that he would never walk again, and his friends and family similarly thought that he “would not make it.”
“Recovery and adjusting to life on a wheelchair was tough and frustrating,” Harum admits, but his inner voice kept encouraging him: “Harum, don’t give up. Your life might have been spared for a reason.”
Making a Change
That was when Harum understood that “[his] mission was to share [his] testimonies to motivate others, some of whom are fighting tougher battles.”
Harum took charge of his life: he started going out, making new friends, and completed a post-graduate course in Public Administration. He also highly valued giving back to his community by making “a tradition to visit the spinal hospital and share [his] stories and learn from others.”
One way he motivates new patients is also to advise them that “just because, for instance, they lost eyesight doesn’t mean they lack vision.”
His disability has also allowed him to understand global concerns about disability, and look for ways to make a change within society.
“In fact my injury has opened my eyes to see my true abilities.”
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