Mariam’s amazing story ‘worth emulating’

TDT | Manama,

His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs representative, has praised a Bahraini hearing-impaired young woman for her courage and outstanding to overcome difficulties despite her physical challenges.

Bahraini citizen Mariam Fouad Shehab has shown that with love, determination, and persistence, there is no despair, said HH Shaikh Nasser, adding that her story is an example to be emulated. “Mariam has set the most amazing examples thanks to her sense of defiance, her determination, and her ability to achieve her goals. She has a strong spirit that says ‘no to the impossible’,” HH Shaikh Nasser said.

Mariam was born with a hearing problem, but she refused to let her challenge keep her behind and she asserted her way through public schools and a private university. She talked about her life in a highly emotional six-minute video that went viral in Bahrain.

HH Shaikh Nasser expressed his happiness with her persistence, posted Mariam’s video, and urged her “to remain strong and to keep saying no to the impossible” in his comments. He also praised Mariam’s father for providing exceptional care to his daughter throughout her life, which confirms his deep love for her and his eagerness to support her to achieve her goals.

In the clip, Mariam said that she never felt she was different from any other person, explaining that to her, “the handicap is the handicap of the mind, not of the body.” Her father said that she had lived a happy childhood and felt her handicap only when she started mixing with other people. However, she was shielded by the love and care of her family and her strong personality, he said.