The vibrant hues in Sri Melati's eyes may have faded, but not her aspirations that bring meaningful contributions to others. Fondly known as Imel, she completed her medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra (USU), Medan, in 2009.
Her career as a medical degree holder was progressing smoothly. After graduating, Imel served as a doctor on Alor Island, East Nusa Tenggara, from 2010 to 2011. However, in 2011, Imel unexpectedly felt that something was amiss in her head. Without prior warning, doctors diagnosed Imel with tuberculosis (TB).
TB proved to be a nightmare as it had nestled in her brain, triggering meningitis. The TB virus wreaked havoc on Imel's nervous system. After surgery and a three-week coma, Imel awoke to a far worse reality. She found herself with severe visual impairments.
Imel lost complete sight in her left eye, while the vision in her right eye became extremely limited, akin to tunnel vision. Despite having only one functional eye, Imel could still perceive a glimmer of light, such as from a screen, and read, though with significant limitations.
Falling and Struggling at Rock Bottom
Experiencing disability in adulthood shattered Imel's life. Her career as a doctor came to an abrupt halt. This was particularly devastating as Imel was the first and only doctor in her extended family. One can imagine the pride her family felt for her accomplishments.
"It was tough for the family to accept [the visually impaired condition], tough for me," Imel shared during a webinar on the LPDP 2023 Scholarship Opening.
Post-coma, Imel also experienced partial paralysis on one side of her body. Her days were spent mostly in bed. Her mind was in turmoil, filled with sadness and despair.
She tried numerous medications, alternative treatments, and even consulted with spiritual healers. All efforts were part of an attempt to find a cure, but unfortunately, none yielded positive results and further deteriorated her mental state.
In her last attempt, Imel's family took her to Singapore for treatment. There, she was given a cane by doctors to learn to walk and was encouraged to interact with other visually impaired individuals. It was at this point that her family came to the realization that Imel was someone with visual impairments.
Becoming a Teacher, Making a Difference
Five years proved more than enough time for Imel to feel stuck at home. Imel's footsteps led her to join Pertuni (Indonesian Blind Union) in Medan, an association she had never imagined being a part of.
There, Imel met Linda, a visually impaired graduate who ran a daycare for differently-abled children. The stereotypical notion that visually impaired individuals could only work as masseuses or singers faded away. Imel was inspired to become a teacher for the differently-abled.
In collaboration with Linda and other visually impaired friends, Imel founded SLBG (Extraordinary Special School) in 2016. Imel's role as a teacher was indeed extraordinary. Alongside five other visually impaired individuals, they pioneered as educators while learning to understand the challenges faced by those with disabilities.
"Here, I met extraordinary friends, people with disabilities that are not common. Because we are willing to start on our own," said Imel, a Javanese descendant born in Medan.
School activities and teaching commenced in 2017. What Imel and her visually impaired colleagues initiated showed progress, leading to the formation of the Dwituna Harapan Baru Foundation in 2019.
With a desire for continuous growth, Imel became interested in delving deeper into special education for Children with Special Needs (CSN). This is where Imel began to envision returning to university. Pursuing education relevant to her newfound world.
Learning in London and Shining Brighter
In 2018, Imel started English language training in Bali to qualify for an LPDP scholarship. She applied for the LPDP scholarship in mid-2019 through the Affirmation Scholarship Program for people with disabilities.
Accepted at University College London, she chose Special and Inclusive Education as her field of study. The LPDP scholarship enabled her to travel to the UK in 2019, and she completed her studies on time in 2021.
The years of the Covid-19 pandemic brought unique challenges and memories for Imel. The beginning of her studies started online. Only in early 2020 did Imel have the opportunity to travel to London. However, upon arrival, lockdown measures were imposed. Consequently, Imel continued her studies remotely.
"So I went to England in January 2021. I arrived there on January 3, and on January 4, there was a lockdown. I laughed with friends who went there together. We made it," she reminisced about the hardships and joys of studying during the pandemic.
The knowledge Imel gained from London was applied back in the Dwituna Harapan Baru Foundation. Imel became heavily involved in foundation activities for development. The foundation aims to provide education for children with multiple disabilities, especially those with Multiple Disabilities with Visual Impairment (MDVI). All students in the foundation are visually impaired with various additional disabilities. Imel plays a crucial role in developing and promoting education for those with disabilities.
"The focus is on socializing to the community about what disabilities are, what inclusive education is, and how the community can implement inclusive education," explained Imel. Now, Sri Melati has found her way back to life. She can see again. A new light that not everyone can perceive.
"Now I can say that I have no regret for being blind. And I’m proud of myself, proud of what I’m doing now," proudly concludes Sri Melati.