Happy Sunday. I hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend.
Today on the blog we have a very special guest: Solara Jaafar. I found Solara on Instagram and after following her page and reading her caption I immediately sent her a direct message.
Solara’s story is one that needs to be shared. It’s annoying, but it’s inspiring. What really caught my attention was the way Solara called herself a burn survivor not a burn victim. I found it so desirable and knew that she had to go to the blog to share her story.
With that said, I’ll let Solara take it from here to tell her incredible story and how she is living life to the fullest today.
♡ ♡ ♡
Introduce yourself to The Skinny Confidential audience and tell us your full story.
Solara Jaafar: Hello everyone, I am a 26 year old wife, a mother of 2 boys, and a burn victim.
I was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a Sri Lankan mother and Sudanese father who met in Lebanon, fell in love, had my brother and I. My parents had a Christmas party that ended in horror on Christmas Eve. That night the house exploded due to an explosion of kerosene. I am two years old, and my brother is nine months old. Among the people in the house, I was the only survivor. I sometimes have survivor guilt.
After the explosion, I was in a coma for six months. After waking up from a coma I couldn’t see for several months due to the intensity of the light, I couldn’t hear due to the effects of the explosion, I had to relearn how to talk and I couldn’t ‘ I can’t was able to walk due to the fusion of burned skin on the back of his right leg.
I love how in your Instagram bio you say you are a survivor, not a victim. Can you talk about that?
SJ: I was not a victim of the explosion. I survived, I got through it, I prospered and got my life back!
What are some resources you used when experiencing great adversity?
SJ: I turn to God and also rely on my family for support. I think about my children and husband during those times. I also have a tattoo on my right forearm that says “she overcame her demons and bore scars like wings.” That tattoo is a reminder that I have, and can, overcome anything and will dress well after adversity.
What are some tools you use every day to practice gratitude?
SJ: Self-affirmation, meditation and yoga. I also love to give and do good deeds. I volunteer in the kitchen and I donate often.
When I was a child, my son and I had to stay at a domestic abuse shelter. Even though those women didn’t know me, they protected me and picked me up when I was at my lowest point. I am grateful to them.
Every summer, I join a fire camp sponsored by firefighters and locals. It allows me to be with other people who have been through similar experiences. I am grateful to them.
I thank the doctors who performed all the procedures and surgeries for me so that I could do things like walk and live a normal life. I am grateful for every single person along the way, and I will never forget where I came from. And so I give back and that’s how I practice gratitude.
You wrote an article about doctors telling your mother to kill you or let you die. That story had a big impact when I read it. Can you share that story with the audience?
I still cried when my mother told that story, I actually cried when I wrote it Instagram. When I was in a coma, the doctor told my mother that she should let me die. He told her that I would never live a life worth living because I would be crippled and scarred and she would later regret her decision.
My mother did not give in and she is the reason why I am alive today. I always wanted to go back to Lebanon and see the doctor… I wanted him to see what kind of person I have become and the woman I am today.
You recently had a baby! Congratulations! What are some lessons you want to teach your child?
SJ: So many lessons! I want to teach my children to be kind. It never hurts to be kind. Be the one to lift others up, not bring them down. I want to teach them the importance of perseverance and courage, never giving up. I want to teach them humility, stay humble and show gratitude. I have so much to teach them!
I love how you say you should never be ashamed of your scars. Talk to us about how you have persevered and gained such inner strength.
SJ: There was a time when I hated my scars. I hate being bullied. I hate stares, whispers. I hate when people scream when they see me. I hate that I can’t live a normal life and my scars are a constant reminder of the traumatic experiences I’ve endured.
I tried to commit suicide many times when I was young and harmed myself. My arms and legs are covered with burn scars and self-inflicted scars. I want it all to end. I have to overcome negative thoughts; I had to overcome and think about everything that I had to overcome. I survived a lot, and it’s only true that I started living and accepting all of myself! I will never be ashamed of my scars again!
What are you doing right now? Tell us what you’re passionate about and how you spend your time.
SJ: When I’m not doing project management or studying (I’m still in college), I spend time with my husband and kids. I also want to grow my social network, so I think I will start posting content soon and do it again. When I first shared my story, I had so many people reach out to me and share their stories. That is the most amazing thing.
Where can people find you? Go out on your own!
SJ: You can find me on Instagram @yeetgod!
♡ ♡ ♡
Be sure to follow @yeetgod on Instagram and forward this blog post and Solara’s instagram page to anyone struggling who needs great inspiration right now.
Solara is someone I really admire, so I hope you enjoy this blog post as much as I do.
x, lauryn
+ for more inspirational stories check out these podcasts, first | 2 | 3.
++ if you start your meditation journey, follow this post.
SOLARA’S GRATITUDE TOOLS:
