By Frida Mwalagho,
John Meleji is whip smart, charismatic and very determined. He is a story to many and an example to the youths. The rapper to be speaks on being an influencer. Juggling rapping, disc jockeying and his studies and receiving support from his parents.
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It was best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness it was the period of disbelief, it was the season of light, and it was the season of darkness. More so, it was a spring of hope and a winter of despair.
John Meleji is an influencer in every sense of the word. Many youths, parents, guardians and teachers use him as an example to those who are not ready to listen. Others follow him for inspiration or simply admire his skills with him being completely blind.
Not many people are ready and willing to talk about the flaws that they have in their lives, for the sake of not being judged by people or being the black sheep in the room. But as per John’s
story it has been a stepping stone to many and more so a lesson he can never forget. Does he regret anything? Does he hate himself? Would you still be strong if you were in his shoes?
In the year 2016 month of September date 27, john Meleji with his friends took ethanol from the laboratory after a chemistry practical during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E), this is because it was his 18th birthday and his friends wanted to have some fun and relieve the examination pressure. Was it peer pressure? Honestly, most of us would do same thing so as to create great memories.
The ethanol reacted after three days whereby, they were all rushed to hospital as they were six of them. Fortunately, or unfortunately, his friends were discharged from hospital for their issue was quite minor. As for John Meleji, his was a different case, he lost his eye sight completely, and the doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital gave him beer which was to neutralize the reaction of ethanol in his system. However, the ethanol reaction reacted on him majorly since he was having an unhealthy diet in school. This affected his liver and his nerves got burnt as per the doctor at the hospital.
Due to the complications, he missed his physics and biology paper, but that did not stop him from getting his grades that would help him go to the university and pursue his dreams of being a rapper.
INVISIBLE WOUNDS
During that period, he felt so much pain and anguish, that he did not know what would happen afterwards. John was still leaving in denial and could not stand the thought that he was blind and never to recover. Being in the hospital for six months, bed ridden was one of the major challenges he faced and the thought of taking medication and going through injections.
John Meleji was completely paralyzed and after being discharged it was a relief that he could still hang out with his friends which led him to start using drugs so as to run away from depression. This went on to the extent that he did not want to be associated with anyone, and would not even want to be in a relationship. ‘Being in a relationship is hectic, it needs commitments and women are just a lot work.’ John explains while laughing.
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The fact that he did not have any kind of eye problem ever since he was young, would at times make him feel sad and lonely. After being discharged from the hospital he was prescribed medication that made him recover a bit of his eyesight but when they went to enquire with the doctor he was given more medication that later damaged his eyesight completely rather it reversed his eyesight, he had to stop using those medications and was told that his nerves might grow back and that the chances of him gaining his eyesight are minimal but that should not stop him from trying.
This depressed him even more, and he indulged in more drugs. He was later taken to a rehabilitation center in Nairobi West by the name Kenya Society for the Blind (K.S.B), whereby they talked to him and trained him to do things normally so as not to feel out of place. He is able to cook, clean and also to do things for himself without anyone’s assistance.
Well, anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once, one needs to always breathe and give himself a motivation that he is strong and hew got this while taking it day by day.
A VICTOR
Meleji narrates to us that he is no longer a victim but a victor through the things that he has gone through. He thanks his beloved mother for standing by him and God for giving him the strength for it only God that can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, a victim into a victory.
Despite all the things he has gone through John enjoys hanging out with friends, socializing and creating great memories.
He encourages us by saying that everything happens for a reason, and he did not go through all that for nothing, it is a lesson and an eye opener to many especially the youth.
Conclusion
Through Doctor Steve Maraboli’s saying, “You are not a victim. No matter what you have been through, you are still here. You may have been challenged, hurt, betrayed, beaten and discouraged, but nothing has defeated you. You are still here! You are not a victim, you are a victor. You are a history of victory.”