Important Lessons We can Learn from Rosemary Odinga’s Story

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You can loss your eyesight, you can loss friends, you can loss even your job. But never, and I repeat never loss yourself. That is one of the many lessons we can learn from the painful story of Rosemary Odinga.

Rosemary was on the verge of declaring her interest in the Kibera constituency parliamentary sit, when the unfortunate happened. She suffered a minor stroke, leading to her hospitalization in South Africa in February 2017. The stroke affected her eyesight and forced her to withdraw from the race.

When asked what was the toughest moment for her during that time, Rosemary said she did not have an idea about a person who was suffering from the same illness.

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I could cry all the time, think of giving up and feel helpless, Rosemary Odinga opens up about her partial blindness.

Speaking to Citizen TV on Sunday night, Rosemary noted that she felt extremely hopeless during her first stages of blindness.

“The transition was very challenging…I am used to living a certain lifestyle where I am very independent and making my own choices in life then suddenly I was not able to do that…,” she said.

“I am not able to choose the clothes I want to wear, not able to drive, go to the store or even cook…I felt hopeless at some point but I am lucky that I have a support system.”

Rosemary said with the support from her two daughters, her family and friends, she was able to overcome the fear that nearly weighed her down.

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“I draw strength from my daughters… because of them, I’m alive. I said to myself that if I give up now, what am I teaching them?” she posed.

“Am I teaching them that whenever you have a hiccup in life to give up?’ And I said ‘no! I have to continue and try and be successful.”

Adapting to her new life, Rosemary noted that she has now learnt how to find her way around the house and choose her own clothes.

“I do not really see with my left eye…my right eye vision is foggy and I can see things that are very close to me but I cannot see things that are below or far away from me,” she said.

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