Oriya’s story is extraordinarily moving, just like her amazing, winning personality.
Oriya, 30 years old, went blind at the age of 15…
At the time, she was still secular in a regular school. It all started when, in the middle of running in a sports class, she crashed into a tree? Her sight began to deteriorate until it disappeared completely in just 3 months – an extremely rare rate (she broke all medical records)…
When she completely lost her vision, she was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. After she regained consciousness, she opened her eyes and asked the professor who treated her, “Is this how Hadassah Hospital is trying to save on electricity??” He gave her a big hug and told her that it was only her eyes♥️
Oriya began a rehabilitation process in which she had to learn everything from scratch: how to bathe herself, prepare food, read, write, choose what to wear, walk down the street or any action that seems ever so trivial to sighted people. Of course, it wasn’t easy and all the more so, while coping with tragedies over the years such as the untimely death of her dearest brother and her complex medical condition unrelated to her blindness.
Oriya, as befits her, somehow found the strength to cope. She realized that her inner and spiritual world was more important to her and she even started to study in a religious seminary. From there she went on to meet her amazing husband who is also blind (from birth), a happy, talented person who plays 14 musical instruments and is a chazzan! Together they are raising their sweet 9.5-year-old son in an inspiring way‼️
Oriya functions fully at home and her house is spit-spot (according to her “she was born with bleach in her hands”?). She invests in her son’s upbringing (cutting, drawing, pasting with him…) with great love ?❤️?. Oriya says that when he was younger, he would ask her: “Ima, right you’re peeking?”
Oriya learned to look inward, to find the joy within and not to depend on the mirrors that reflect from the outside. Thanks to her blindness, she is a sensitive, attentive person and she enjoys everything that she experiences with her other senses – like walking barefoot and feeling the cool, clean floor, feeling the rough texture of the scrumptious schnitzel she made, and more…
Recently, after being a full-time homemaker for a long while, Oriya started going to a rehabilitation day center where she makes amazing things like parts for miniatures, artfully designed candles, etc. much to the pride of her son and husband?
She began a vocational process with Sarah, our lovely, expert vocational coach at Bayit Cham, where she is preparing for the world of work. Together they are thinking which career best suits her. Oriya knows for sure that it is important for her to have a job that is honorable, rewarding and one that matches her talents and skills (and there are many! You haven’t heard her sing, for example…)
Oriya’s message is that blindness is an advantage, not a disadvantage. Blindness makes it possible to see people as they are, to touch and see directly into their hearts, without visual barriers, relating with great sensitivity to others’ deep, inner qualities without being blinded by outward appearances (pun intended) ♥️
And we say: Oriya – it’s our privilege to serve you!!! You are amazing with your determination and your power to cope.
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