KARACHI: On April 8, Twitter user Kinza Khan asked people to tell her their survival story on the social media app and the thread that followed is both heart wrenching and inspiring.
People from across Pakistan, from Quetta till Mansehra, have been sharing their stories of survival — whether it’s surviving and life-threatening condition to an abusive relationship and we can’t help but be in awe.
Salute to these courageous individuals. Here are some tweets from the thread:
I thought I'd die the second my amma died, it's been an year and a half and im living, waiting for the reunion. https://t.co/y9fZW2A56C
— Sidra Rizvi (@SidraRizvi10) April 10, 2019
– survived a suicide attempt back in 2010, was unconscious for three days
– survived another attempt in 2012 and I have been fighting for my life ever since https://t.co/dRznvn6OQQ— Mr. Career (@FunkySabbath) April 10, 2019
By age 3 had to learn to walk a 2nd time, with polio affecting back, leg. But lots of support from family, friends; lost parents in teens. Graduated, started work as a journo in a newspaper; then radio, TV, rose to board level in int'l media. Finally made editor where I'd started
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) April 9, 2019
Poor student
Beaten up
Beaten up
Suspended
Dumped
Terrible job
Great job
Broken engagement
Left job
Brief radio career
Dumped
Great job
Neck surgery
Depression
Therapy
Neck surgery
Left job
Married
Therapist
Islamabad
Baby
Heart attack
Still breathing 😊 https://t.co/zIU0aktWuS— Khurram Qureshi (@qureshik74) April 9, 2019
Had to leave Pak when I was 17 with family because molvis attacked our house (Ahmadi) Lived on income support in UK for 8 years. Worked nights to pay for my uni education. Some days I'd go without sleep and food. Now I'm a Principle Engineer and Architect at a tech company in UK.
— مولا جَٹ (@MaolaJutt) April 10, 2019
used to make and sell samosas, applied for a salesman job where they told me i am not good enough for any kind of job, @iNabeelHashmi picked me up from Twitter and now i am doing my dream job as a graphics designer https://t.co/ebuJHzIeV9
— SF (@S_M_Sufian) April 9, 2019
I stopped walking aged 9. Diagnosed with muscle wasting condition, moved to UK 1999. Graduated will LLB Hons second class degree in 2017 despite all the troubles. https://t.co/2ojAQzw9vH
— Mohsin Tanveer #BlackLivesMatter (@MohsinTanveer10) April 10, 2019
Attempted suicide when I was 14. Aaj 24 saal ka hoon.
If you need help, ask for it. No one should have to be alone. Quitting isn't the answer. No one remembers quitters, people who stand up after falling down are the real heroes. https://t.co/sRg9s86BKK— ᴍᴀɴꜱᴏᴏʀ (@mansoor8895) April 10, 2019
I started working at an early page, sold aaloo cholay garam aanday before 12, hosiery at the age of 12, was forced out of education, made a deal with my family that i work evening shift and study also, now i am business consultant and successful professional, feels like 60 at 40
— Qabl e Muzammat (@38Tayyab) April 10, 2019
In 2004 survived from bomb blast and firing in Quetta , winter 2006 I got burned while working in Mechanic workshop as ( Chotoo) luckily others saved me early 2009 when migrating to Aus 22 of 41 of us drowned in ocean but I survived now Happy married Happy father
— mohammad mehdi (@mohamma64321032) April 10, 2019
Had to shield me ammi & siblings from abusive father since I was young, cannot escape it- family is too prominent, suffered severe depression on and off causing me to fail a top law school, two broken engagements one with actual chor, now in grad school again- trying is surviving
— Zaina (@zintuitivity) April 10, 2019
I received my Ph.D. in 2013.
I've been on the market every year since.
I've never landed a permanent job – thus far. https://t.co/iTM2UM8dg9
— Provost of Antifa / سيدة الفتنة (@MsEntropy) April 10, 2019
Got nikkahfied at the age of 18, and got divorce at 20. Survived the post divorce trauma healed my pain all alone and beg to Allah to heal my pain everyday and I did.
He was the first person who came into my life I loved him so much, https://t.co/TWPlW7ramb— bismaaa (@outinspaceee) April 10, 2019
my self-esteem and sense of safety were completely distorted growing up. dealt with sexual abuse while we were on the run, and then physical/emotional abuse at the hands of loved ones. struggling with depression and an anxiety disorder as a result. https://t.co/yxN03zBCEW
— Zoya Rehman (@pind_wave) April 10, 2019
Graduated in 2015, was jobless for arround 2 n half years, depression was overly attached as being the elder child of the house, finally the hard work paid off, cleared 6 commission exams, choose to join Police as Inspector investigations… https://t.co/MkEshvyNXq
— Avais Memon (@avaismemon19) April 10, 2019
Left home at the age 11; joined AirForce in 2001 quit on medical grounds, was diagnosed with HepC in 2006 given 3 months to live;went through the hardest treatment injecting myself for 9months that nearly killed me twice.Lost Maa in 2014,Survived Depression; An Artist “CarpeDiem”
— Alamdar Khan (@Alamdar405) April 10, 2019
Then: Broken Fam+No Childhood Supervision+Limited Money=>poor grades + horrible company.
Teacher: “he’ll be in jail b4 he turns 16”
Never understood math.
Today: Graduating next month with MBA from LUMS, CFA Level 2 candidate, starting job at a Hedge Fund in New York in Jul.— Ahmad Mukaram (@AhmadMukaram) April 10, 2019
My father died when I was 12 & mother didn't have enough money to pay for an elite school with O-levels. Did Matric & FSc. Came 3rd in Board, got a 1540 on SATs & a full scholarship to Wellesley & later Columbia. Was privileged in many other ways that allowed me to make this jump https://t.co/OQNXNbEJtV
— Tabinda Khan (@tabinda_m) April 9, 2019
I am from North Nazimabad. In 90's MQM would dump dead bodies in our mohalla. Moved to Canada when I was a child. Dad stayed behind to take care of parents. Ammi raised five kids by herself in a country where she knew no one. Paid for my own edu since 17. Just finished a STEM PhD https://t.co/4q1xcBtswt
— H Jafri (@hjafrii) April 9, 2019
Ending with this thought:
You really have no idea what people have gone through here. Read the replies and be kind to each other https://t.co/7p0UuYT1BP
— lambi hai gham ki sham (@alpharays_) April 10, 2019
