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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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A life full of miracles by LAKMAL WELABADA Little Mareena was just two years old when she had to undergo a serious operation in her throat due to suspected diphtheria. Her parents who knew little about their daughter's sickness had full confidence in the doctors who treated her. But an alarming suspicion crept into the sub-conscious of Mareena's mother when she noticed that the little girl who was moving around the cot holding the railing for the past few days after the operation, suddenly had difficulty in standing on her feet. "Why? what happened?" Ilene Sourjah, Mareena's mother was trembling, pouring out questions to the hospital staff at the 'government children's hospital, Colombo'. Eventually the Sourjah couple had to accept that their little daughter was another victim of the incurable disease, polio. Mrs.Sourjah wept when she remembered how Mareena missed the polio drops on the day the nurse from the area family health clinic visited their place, since she was down with flu and cold. Polio restricted Mareena's movements, but she got a lot of encouragement and support from her family, relatives and friends. Mareena whose pet name is Dharshika was the seventh of the eight in her family. She had five elder sisters, an elder brother and a younger brother. Though the disability in her legs closed the doors of school, her sisters, brothers, parents and grandparents brought universal knowledge to her. She studied. Though the could not get through any certified examination, Mareena mastered three languages; Malay, Sinhala and English. Her late journalist father M.E. Sourjah who was once the Features Editor of the Sunday Observer, with the little time he had for his children due to his hectic work schedules had an appreciative eye on his disabled daughter who was struggling to come up on her own in life without being a burden to her family. She learnt to do everything on her own. At the age of 15, her interest in art changed her life. Learning the basic stitches in sewing from her mother and granny, she learnt dressmaking. Grandma's old peddling sewing machine was an asset for her. She kept her benumbed leg on the pedal and pressed it with her own hand to give the physical force to move the pedal. Very soon the self taught Mareena's dresses were competing with other trendy fashions in town. Bridals, party dresses, kids garments, hand and machine embroidery, fabric paintings attracted customers from all walks of life. Her pretty face, kind human nature and lively spirit always won the hearts of her associates and clients. Mareena was not interested in getting married until she met Sarath. "Sarath and I had been knowing each other since we were teens. I am a Malay and he is a Sinhala Buddhist. The community difference or my disability were not considered as barriers in his love," Mareena said throwing a loving glance at her husband whom she believes as a blessing in her life. Sarath is also a diploma holder in dress making. "We got married on September 25 in 1996, the day before Mareena's birthday," he said.Mareena did her own wedding dress. Sarath built a small house at Hokandara and stayed at home to look after Mareena. During their seven years of happy marriage, they both worked hard and developed their sewing business. The dream of having a baby was next in her mind. She was keen to have a baby despite all warnings from her family and relatives. But after a series of medical examinations she was able to have her dream fulfilled. Two days before she confirmed her pregnancy Sarath got a job as a gym supervisor at the Royal Park Gymnasium making their lives more stable. "Both my mother and mother-in-law made so many vows according to their religions for me to have a safe delivery. While my mother was making a vow to offer flags in green and white colour with the half moon and star to the Balangoda mosque, my mother-in-law was offering so many 'poojas' to the Goddess Pattini at Nawagamuwa Devalaya," said Mareena. On December 24, 2002 Mareena gave birth to a healthy baby son at Kalubowila Hospital. Mareena's life is full of miracles. Today her eight-months-old son bounces on her lap smiling at his courageous mother and the dutiful father. With determination and courage, Mareena looks after her son full time since her husband goes to work. "My future dream is to develop our sewing business and give the best of education to my son," says Mareena. |
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