Positive Pakistani: Ali Jilani - a step in the right direction

Ali Jilani has overcome his disability with a positive attitude and is helping others do the same

Those who knew the shy Ali Jilani during his early school days could have never imagined that the 19-year-old would transform into the vivacious powerhouse he is today. Suffering from cerebral palsy — a neurological disorder which affects motor functions in the upper and lower limbs — Ali’s condition had once not only hampered his mobility but also his approach towards life. Today, he may not have regained complete movement in his feet but has certainly changed his attitude and is motivating others to do the same.

Despite undergoing a series of physiotherapy sessions and a surgery to elongate the leg muscles, Ali was not able to stand upright for even five minutes without experiencing excruciating pain until the age of 12. “I was told it was a day-care surgery,” says Ali, who did not expect to wake up in excruciating pain. “I didn’t let anyone touch me, I was screaming so loud that it was disturbing every patient in that wing and it made my physiotherapist’s job really tough,” he adds. Five days after the surgery, Ali was tied to a vertically upright table for days during physiotherapy sessions, after which he took his first three steps. “I felt relieved but frustrated as I knew I’d never be able to walk normally again,” he says, explaining that it was the first time he felt pessimistic.

Ali, who was always physically restricted due to his condition, envied the students who could participate in sports. “I would see children take part in athletics, plays and be up on stage and my heart would sink because I had come to believe that I was inferior to them,” shares Jilani. Noticing how distant he had become, one of his teachers, Ghazala Amin, started counselling him and encouraged him to express his emotions. In hopes to restore his confidence, she introduced him to the works of Nick Vijicic, author of No Arms No Legs No Worries, and Bethany Hamilton, the inspiration behind the movie Soul Surfer. Gradually Ali showed signs of improvement with his initial reaction being, “I thought people looked at me [with pity], and [that] would break me so I [decided] to prove to everyone and myself that I can do everything they can. [In fact] I can do it better.”

The realistion that his physical disability had no link with what he could achieve became his strongest asset. He started participating in all school events, including debates and plays, and was even selected to be part of the student council. In February 2012, when he was asked to lead the march-past on the school’s annual sports day, he obliged without hesitation. Although his teachers and friends had expressed concern, Ali was determined to overcome the challenge. He practiced for weeks and stunned the audience on the final day with his courage as he marched holding the house flag in one hand and a walking stick in another. When the pain became unbearable, he handed the house flag to one of the students to make sure that the flag was held high.

Based on his performance, a year later Jilani was awarded the title ‘Leadership Mentor’ to inspire other students and conduct motivational workshops. Currently pursuing his dream to become a doctor at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, he is also an annual speaker at the Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation where he aims to raise awareness about the special needs of people. “Ali’s only dream is still to be able to walk on his own one day,” shares his friend Sameer Ahmed Khan. But in his quest to do so, he has already inspired several others to get back on their feet.

Zainab Sadia Saeed is a student and an aspiring journalist. She tweets @zainabssaeed

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, December 7^th, 2014.