My love for Pets

Dogs my first Love

I guess keeping dogs as pets ran in my family and that is how I got this habit. My grandfather always used to keep dogs, then my uncle is crazy about dogs who lives in England and my father also loved dogs. Now you can see as to how I got this love for keeping dogs. Dogs have been the only animal I have kept as pets. They are known to be man's best friend and are considered very faithful. As you will see from my article I have always considered the dogs I have kept to be pets and a part of the family. For me keeping a dog as a watchdog was as good as not keeping one at all.

Tmmy my first Dog

I had a dog called Timmy in Lahore. In those days The Famous Five used to be a popular story written by Enid Blyton and they used to have a dog called Timmy. That was how I got the name. I was very close to him and used to love playing with him. During cycling he used to run around with me and just loving the freedom he had. I used to talk him for long walks and in Lahore, there used to be a number of parks to go. Timmy used to get me worried when the gate would be open and he would sneak out of the house and not return until a few hours. My cousins would also love playing with him and while we used to play cricket, Timmy would go after the ball. I also didn’t like it at all when my father used to hit him if he did something wrong which was seldom. The time to move back to Karachi and we had to take Timmy with us, as he had become a part of the family.

The passing away of Timmy

Unfortunately Timmy could never settle down in Karachi and was beginning to fall sick quite frequently. Timmy was around six weeks old when he first came to us and he had grown up in Lahore. Although I used to take him to the beach and we used to have a lot of fun there. Timmy was not the same dog anymore and used to be very lazy always seen to me sleeping. We did take him to the vet a number of times and an injection would be given to him for regaining energy. His last few months were very hard for me and he was a shadow of his old self. He had lost a lot of weight and was not eating properly. In the end we were told that to overcome his suffering an injection would be given which would put him to sleep. Indeed it would be the toughest decision I had to make so far and seeing him suffer was something I could not bear. Timmy was put to sleep and died peacefully. It was a very sad day for me and I could picture him everywhere and how he used to greet me when I would come home after school. It did take me a lot of time to get over Timmy and he will always remain in my heart.

Keeping dogs was not an easy task as you have to take care of them. My mother was not at all used to keeping dogs and never before in her family had someone kept dogs. By keeping Timmy who we had for 7 to 8 years brought a change in my mom and she began to like dogs. My mom’s parents meaning my grand parents were always very scared of dogs from the beginning and whenever they used to come to visit us we would have to tie our dog. It did take some time to keep a dog after Timmy had died. I did keep 2 to 3 different dogs but the one who I will always remember is the last dog I kept called Jerry.

My most loving and best friend Jerry

His name I had kept after watching a movie called K9 in which there was a beautiful German Shepard dog known as Jerry. My jerry really resembled him and was just as beautiful as him. He was what you what say perfect in every way. There were so many things I just loved about him and he was my best and most loving friend. He would love to sleep on my bed and sit on the sofa with me. He would always wake me up in the morning by coming and licking my face. When I would get back from the office, he would be standing by the stairs to greet me. One of Jerry’s favorite things used to be going for a drive in the car. I also loved taking Jerry and we used to go on a Saturday.

Having fun with Jerry

Jerry was a very intelligent dog and in the evening he could tell when it was time for him to go in the car. He would go and stand by the car waiting to go. We used to go for half an hour with Jerry taking his face out of the window and enjoy the breeze. It really made Jerry’s weekend and I used to be so much happy for him. Jerry also used to love sleeping in the air conditioned room and used to sleep in my room a number of times. Jerry did have a lot of hair which did make it very uncomfortable as it used to get very hot and humid. During one summer we decided to shave off Jerry’s hair and you could not recognize him after his hair had been shaved off. Jerry looked totally different and since his hair was his beauty we decided not too shave off his hair again. Jerry became very close and attached to my mom as she was the one who used to feed him and be with him when I and my dad were in office. Jerry would always follow my mom wherever she would go.

Leaving Jerry Alone

I normally would be very excited when going abroad for a vacation but that was not the case when Jerry was there. I hated leaving Jerry alone and wished that I could also take him along.. Jerry used to be very upset at seeing the three of us leave and what my feelings were at that time were hard to describe. Jerry used to be in the hands of the servants which I disliked immensely but there was no other option. During my vacation, I would always be thinking about Jerry and what he would be doing. We would often call up home and enquire about how Jerry was. On knowing that he was fine would give me a enormous about of satisfaction and comfort. I clearly remember the joy and happiness with which he used to welcome us back. He used to jump on top of us and his joy had no bounds. It was a sight which was totally unique and I can never forget it for the rest of my life. I always used to get things for Jerry including bones to play with and biscuits. Jerry used to love them. I used to be so happy to be back with Jerry and thanked God for Jerry’s good health.

Losing Jerry

This paragraph is going to be very difficult for me to write. I remember Jerry used to have tick fever a number of times. Ticks used to be small insects which used to suck the blood out of Jerry and used to make him very weak. There used to be tick powder which we would pour over Jerry’s body to kill the ticks. A couple of times Jerry had it we were able to catch the fever in time and kill it with powder. The ticks had covered the whole of Jerry’s body which was going to be the last time he had this deadly fever. Jerry had become so weak and it made me cry to see him like that. All the vets had said that nothing could be done now and Jerry would live for a few days more. I felt so helpless at that point and so low as I have never felt. One morning I heard my father call me loudly and saw that Jerry had passed away. He was lying there in total peace. Jerry was around 8 years old and as they say 1 human year equals to 7 years of a dog. Jerry in that case would be 56 years old. They say that the life of a German Shepherd was short and Jerry had lived his life.

Tough Times

It was a very difficult time for me and it felt as if a part of my life had come to an end. Jerry was like a brother to me and the best friend I have ever had. They day Jerry passed away I went to bury him and on the way back could not help myself from crying all the way home. I definitely felt a sense of loss and was totally overwhelmed by emotions. It also had a very telling effect on my mom, as I had earlier said how close she had become to Jerry. Up till the present time I have still not been able to overcome the loss of Jerry and miss him like crazy at times. I can still picture him going for a drive in the car. We have not been able to keep a dog after Jerry. I guess his loss was so great that we just not have been able to come to terms with it. Keeping a dog requires a lot of care and having a lot of time at your hands for him, which is one of the reasons for not keeping another dog. The ultimate reason would be Jerry himself, his beauty, charisma and intelligence which no other dog can ever possess. I guess it will be difficult for you to believe me but at the time of writing this chapter on Jerry I had tears in my eyes which showed the affection and love I will always have for him.

Overcoming Jerry's Loss

I would have to say that losing Jerry was a big loss for me and I have never been able to recover from it. It is true that life goes on but when you lose something so close to you, it definitely has an impact on you and your life is not the same anymore. Being the only child makes me more sensitive and emotional at times like these. Since Jerry was my best friend losing him also felt like a part of my body had gone with him. We also have not kept a dog after Jerry, as the loss of Jerry was too overwhelming for us. Besides I had become busy in my work and used to come home in the evenings. I would not have to give or spend much time with the dog which would be unfair to him. It would have been too much of a burden on my mom taking care of him. After the passing away of Jerry I decided to keep busy in work which enabled me to concentrate on work related things and time was beginning to pass quickly.

My love for Pets

Dogs my first Love

I guess keeping dogs as pets ran in my family and that is how I got this habit. My grandfather always used to keep dogs, then my uncle is crazy about dogs who lives in England and my father also loved dogs. Now you can see as to how I got this love for keeping dogs. Dogs have been the only animal I have kept as pets. They are known to be man's best friend and are considered very faithful. As you will see from my article I have always considered the dogs I have kept to be pets and a part of the family. For me keeping a dog as a watchdog was as good as not keeping one at all.

Tmmy my first Dog

I had a dog called Timmy in Lahore. In those days The Famous Five used to be a popular story written by Enid Blyton and they used to have a dog called Timmy. That was how I got the name. I was very close to him and used to love playing with him. During cycling he used to run around with me and just loving the freedom he had. I used to talk him for long walks and in Lahore, there used to be a number of parks to go. Timmy used to get me worried when the gate would be open and he would sneak out of the house and not return until a few hours. My cousins would also love playing with him and while we used to play cricket, Timmy would go after the ball. I also didn’t like it at all when my father used to hit him if he did something wrong which was seldom. The time to move back to Karachi and we had to take Timmy with us, as he had become a part of the family.

The passing away of Timmy

Unfortunately Timmy could never settle down in Karachi and was beginning to fall sick quite frequently. Timmy was around six weeks old when he first came to us and he had grown up in Lahore. Although I used to take him to the beach and we used to have a lot of fun there. Timmy was not the same dog anymore and used to be very lazy always seen to me sleeping. We did take him to the vet a number of times and an injection would be given to him for regaining energy. His last few months were very hard for me and he was a shadow of his old self. He had lost a lot of weight and was not eating properly. In the end we were told that to overcome his suffering an injection would be given which would put him to sleep. Indeed it would be the toughest decision I had to make so far and seeing him suffer was something I could not bear. Timmy was put to sleep and died peacefully. It was a very sad day for me and I could picture him everywhere and how he used to greet me when I would come home after school. It did take me a lot of time to get over Timmy and he will always remain in my heart.

Keeping dogs was not an easy task as you have to take care of them. My mother was not at all used to keeping dogs and never before in her family had someone kept dogs. By keeping Timmy who we had for 7 to 8 years brought a change in my mom and she began to like dogs. My mom’s parents meaning my grand parents were always very scared of dogs from the beginning and whenever they used to come to visit us we would have to tie our dog. It did take some time to keep a dog after Timmy had died. I did keep 2 to 3 different dogs but the one who I will always remember is the last dog I kept called Jerry.

My most loving and best friend Jerry

His name I had kept after watching a movie called K9 in which there was a beautiful German Shepard dog known as Jerry. My jerry really resembled him and was just as beautiful as him. He was what you what say perfect in every way. There were so many things I just loved about him and he was my best and most loving friend. He would love to sleep on my bed and sit on the sofa with me. He would always wake me up in the morning by coming and licking my face. When I would get back from the office, he would be standing by the stairs to greet me. One of Jerry’s favorite things used to be going for a drive in the car. I also loved taking Jerry and we used to go on a Saturday.

Having fun with Jerry

Jerry was a very intelligent dog and in the evening he could tell when it was time for him to go in the car. He would go and stand by the car waiting to go. We used to go for half an hour with Jerry taking his face out of the window and enjoy the breeze. It really made Jerry’s weekend and I used to be so much happy for him. Jerry also used to love sleeping in the air conditioned room and used to sleep in my room a number of times. Jerry did have a lot of hair which did make it very uncomfortable as it used to get very hot and humid. During one summer we decided to shave off Jerry’s hair and you could not recognize him after his hair had been shaved off. Jerry looked totally different and since his hair was his beauty we decided not too shave off his hair again. Jerry became very close and attached to my mom as she was the one who used to feed him and be with him when I and my dad were in office. Jerry would always follow my mom wherever she would go.

Leaving Jerry Alone

I normally would be very excited when going abroad for a vacation but that was not the case when Jerry was there. I hated leaving Jerry alone and wished that I could also take him along.. Jerry used to be very upset at seeing the three of us leave and what my feelings were at that time were hard to describe. Jerry used to be in the hands of the servants which I disliked immensely but there was no other option. During my vacation, I would always be thinking about Jerry and what he would be doing. We would often call up home and enquire about how Jerry was. On knowing that he was fine would give me a enormous about of satisfaction and comfort. I clearly remember the joy and happiness with which he used to welcome us back. He used to jump on top of us and his joy had no bounds. It was a sight which was totally unique and I can never forget it for the rest of my life. I always used to get things for Jerry including bones to play with and biscuits. Jerry used to love them. I used to be so happy to be back with Jerry and thanked God for Jerry’s good health.

Losing Jerry

This paragraph is going to be very difficult for me to write. I remember Jerry used to have tick fever a number of times. Ticks used to be small insects which used to suck the blood out of Jerry and used to make him very weak. There used to be tick powder which we would pour over Jerry’s body to kill the ticks. A couple of times Jerry had it we were able to catch the fever in time and kill it with powder. The ticks had covered the whole of Jerry’s body which was going to be the last time he had this deadly fever. Jerry had become so weak and it made me cry to see him like that. All the vets had said that nothing could be done now and Jerry would live for a few days more. I felt so helpless at that point and so low as I have never felt. One morning I heard my father call me loudly and saw that Jerry had passed away. He was lying there in total peace. Jerry was around 8 years old and as they say 1 human year equals to 7 years of a dog. Jerry in that case would be 56 years old. They say that the life of a German Shepherd was short and Jerry had lived his life.

Tough Times

It was a very difficult time for me and it felt as if a part of my life had come to an end. Jerry was like a brother to me and the best friend I have ever had. They day Jerry passed away I went to bury him and on the way back could not help myself from crying all the way home. I definitely felt a sense of loss and was totally overwhelmed by emotions. It also had a very telling effect on my mom, as I had earlier said how close she had become to Jerry. Up till the present time I have still not been able to overcome the loss of Jerry and miss him like crazy at times. I can still picture him going for a drive in the car. We have not been able to keep a dog after Jerry. I guess his loss was so great that we just not have been able to come to terms with it. Keeping a dog requires a lot of care and having a lot of time at your hands for him, which is one of the reasons for not keeping another dog. The ultimate reason would be Jerry himself, his beauty, charisma and intelligence which no other dog can ever possess. I guess it will be difficult for you to believe me but at the time of writing this chapter on Jerry I had tears in my eyes which showed the affection and love I will always have for him.

Overcoming Jerry's Loss

I would have to say that losing Jerry was a big loss for me and I have never been able to recover from it. It is true that life goes on but when you lose something so close to you, it definitely has an impact on you and your life is not the same anymore. Being the only child makes me more sensitive and emotional at times like these. Since Jerry was my best friend losing him also felt like a part of my body had gone with him. We also have not kept a dog after Jerry, as the loss of Jerry was too overwhelming for us. Besides I had become busy in my work and used to come home in the evenings. I would not have to give or spend much time with the dog which would be unfair to him. It would have been too much of a burden on my mom taking care of him. After the passing away of Jerry I decided to keep busy in work which enabled me to concentrate on work related things and time was beginning to pass quickly.

My love for Pets

Dogs my first Love

I guess keeping dogs as pets ran in my family and that is how I got this habit. My grandfather always used to keep dogs, then my uncle is crazy about dogs who lives in England and my father also loved dogs. Now you can see as to how I got this love for keeping dogs. Dogs have been the only animal I have kept as pets. They are known to be man's best friend and are considered very faithful. As you will see from my article I have always considered the dogs I have kept to be pets and a part of the family. For me keeping a dog as a watchdog was as good as not keeping one at all.

Tmmy my first Dog

I had a dog called Timmy in Lahore. In those days The Famous Five used to be a popular story written by Enid Blyton and they used to have a dog called Timmy. That was how I got the name. I was very close to him and used to love playing with him. During cycling he used to run around with me and just loving the freedom he had. I used to talk him for long walks and in Lahore, there used to be a number of parks to go. Timmy used to get me worried when the gate would be open and he would sneak out of the house and not return until a few hours. My cousins would also love playing with him and while we used to play cricket, Timmy would go after the ball. I also didn’t like it at all when my father used to hit him if he did something wrong which was seldom. The time to move back to Karachi and we had to take Timmy with us, as he had become a part of the family.

The passing away of Timmy

Unfortunately Timmy could never settle down in Karachi and was beginning to fall sick quite frequently. Timmy was around six weeks old when he first came to us and he had grown up in Lahore. Although I used to take him to the beach and we used to have a lot of fun there. Timmy was not the same dog anymore and used to be very lazy always seen to me sleeping. We did take him to the vet a number of times and an injection would be given to him for regaining energy. His last few months were very hard for me and he was a shadow of his old self. He had lost a lot of weight and was not eating properly. In the end we were told that to overcome his suffering an injection would be given which would put him to sleep. Indeed it would be the toughest decision I had to make so far and seeing him suffer was something I could not bear. Timmy was put to sleep and died peacefully. It was a very sad day for me and I could picture him everywhere and how he used to greet me when I would come home after school. It did take me a lot of time to get over Timmy and he will always remain in my heart.

Keeping dogs was not an easy task as you have to take care of them. My mother was not at all used to keeping dogs and never before in her family had someone kept dogs. By keeping Timmy who we had for 7 to 8 years brought a change in my mom and she began to like dogs. My mom’s parents meaning my grand parents were always very scared of dogs from the beginning and whenever they used to come to visit us we would have to tie our dog. It did take some time to keep a dog after Timmy had died. I did keep 2 to 3 different dogs but the one who I will always remember is the last dog I kept called Jerry.

My most loving and best friend Jerry

His name I had kept after watching a movie called K9 in which there was a beautiful German Shepard dog known as Jerry. My jerry really resembled him and was just as beautiful as him. He was what you what say perfect in every way. There were so many things I just loved about him and he was my best and most loving friend. He would love to sleep on my bed and sit on the sofa with me. He would always wake me up in the morning by coming and licking my face. When I would get back from the office, he would be standing by the stairs to greet me. One of Jerry’s favorite things used to be going for a drive in the car. I also loved taking Jerry and we used to go on a Saturday.

Having fun with Jerry

Jerry was a very intelligent dog and in the evening he could tell when it was time for him to go in the car. He would go and stand by the car waiting to go. We used to go for half an hour with Jerry taking his face out of the window and enjoy the breeze. It really made Jerry’s weekend and I used to be so much happy for him. Jerry also used to love sleeping in the air conditioned room and used to sleep in my room a number of times. Jerry did have a lot of hair which did make it very uncomfortable as it used to get very hot and humid. During one summer we decided to shave off Jerry’s hair and you could not recognize him after his hair had been shaved off. Jerry looked totally different and since his hair was his beauty we decided not too shave off his hair again. Jerry became very close and attached to my mom as she was the one who used to feed him and be with him when I and my dad were in office. Jerry would always follow my mom wherever she would go.

Leaving Jerry Alone

I normally would be very excited when going abroad for a vacation but that was not the case when Jerry was there. I hated leaving Jerry alone and wished that I could also take him along.. Jerry used to be very upset at seeing the three of us leave and what my feelings were at that time were hard to describe. Jerry used to be in the hands of the servants which I disliked immensely but there was no other option. During my vacation, I would always be thinking about Jerry and what he would be doing. We would often call up home and enquire about how Jerry was. On knowing that he was fine would give me a enormous about of satisfaction and comfort. I clearly remember the joy and happiness with which he used to welcome us back. He used to jump on top of us and his joy had no bounds. It was a sight which was totally unique and I can never forget it for the rest of my life. I always used to get things for Jerry including bones to play with and biscuits. Jerry used to love them. I used to be so happy to be back with Jerry and thanked God for Jerry’s good health.

Losing Jerry

This paragraph is going to be very difficult for me to write. I remember Jerry used to have tick fever a number of times. Ticks used to be small insects which used to suck the blood out of Jerry and used to make him very weak. There used to be tick powder which we would pour over Jerry’s body to kill the ticks. A couple of times Jerry had it we were able to catch the fever in time and kill it with powder. The ticks had covered the whole of Jerry’s body which was going to be the last time he had this deadly fever. Jerry had become so weak and it made me cry to see him like that. All the vets had said that nothing could be done now and Jerry would live for a few days more. I felt so helpless at that point and so low as I have never felt. One morning I heard my father call me loudly and saw that Jerry had passed away. He was lying there in total peace. Jerry was around 8 years old and as they say 1 human year equals to 7 years of a dog. Jerry in that case would be 56 years old. They say that the life of a German Shepherd was short and Jerry had lived his life.

Tough Times

It was a very difficult time for me and it felt as if a part of my life had come to an end. Jerry was like a brother to me and the best friend I have ever had. They day Jerry passed away I went to bury him and on the way back could not help myself from crying all the way home. I definitely felt a sense of loss and was totally overwhelmed by emotions. It also had a very telling effect on my mom, as I had earlier said how close she had become to Jerry. Up till the present time I have still not been able to overcome the loss of Jerry and miss him like crazy at times. I can still picture him going for a drive in the car. We have not been able to keep a dog after Jerry. I guess his loss was so great that we just not have been able to come to terms with it. Keeping a dog requires a lot of care and having a lot of time at your hands for him, which is one of the reasons for not keeping another dog. The ultimate reason would be Jerry himself, his beauty, charisma and intelligence which no other dog can ever possess. I guess it will be difficult for you to believe me but at the time of writing this chapter on Jerry I had tears in my eyes which showed the affection and love I will always have for him.

Overcoming Jerry's Loss

I would have to say that losing Jerry was a big loss for me and I have never been able to recover from it. It is true that life goes on but when you lose something so close to you, it definitely has an impact on you and your life is not the same anymore. Being the only child makes me more sensitive and emotional at times like these. Since Jerry was my best friend losing him also felt like a part of my body had gone with him. We also have not kept a dog after Jerry, as the loss of Jerry was too overwhelming for us. Besides I had become busy in my work and used to come home in the evenings. I would not have to give or spend much time with the dog which would be unfair to him. It would have been too much of a burden on my mom taking care of him. After the passing away of Jerry I decided to keep busy in work which enabled me to concentrate on work related things and time was beginning to pass quickly.

My time spent at IBM

Getting started at IBM

I would also like to talk about the time spent in IBM over 15 years which was definitely memorable and very enjoyable time. I had started by doing computer courses and went on to work for them. After completing my A-levels I had joined IBM as I was interested in computers. IBM being one of the most successful computer companies in modern times. As the then Managing Director of IBM was a good friend of my father, he offered me a job and I joined the finance department in IBM. I had been diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia before joining IBM and I used to use a walker for walking. I remember taking rounds of the building using my walker and it felt great.

My transfer into a wheelchair happened while I was in IBM, due to my legs getting weak and making it impossible for me to walk. Let me say that the entire staff and employees of IBM were extremely caring and gave me all their support and courage. They made sure that my seat had a lot of space to maneuver and all my work was done on the computer. I did not need to do any running around for my work which made it very comfortable for me.

I made a lot of great friends a IBM. At one point and time we were five to six friends all working together in the finance department. It was one of the most enjoyable and memorable time I ever had. We used to joke, laugh, tease one another and also used to do our work at the same time. We were extremely lucky to have some extremely understanding managers who would also used to joke with us and engage in some interesting conversation with us today. The atmosphere used to be so entertaining and exciting.

A.F. FERGUSON

A.F. Ferguson which was an audit company and was headed by my father at that time used to do the audit of IBM. Their team compromised of some young boys who were extremely friendly with me. I remember when their team came over for the audit of IBM, we had a ball of a time, used to go for lunch and joke all the time. There were a couple of female auditors with whom I became friends and have kept in touch with them to this day. One of them is among my best friends and her name is Aana. She is married now and lives in England. I always try to meet her when I go to England.

The Best Boss I have ever Had

My story on IBM would not be complete without mentioning my boss Mohammad Zubair. He I would say has been the most caring, understanding and friendly boss I have ever had. In the beginning of my joining IBM, I had a female boss by the name of Ferial. She also was very caring and an extremely friendly person. She also gave me an award for my work at IBM. Ferial was my boss for a couple of years in the mid-nineties before she went abroad. By that time Zubair had come from Europe to become the Chief Financial Officer of Pakistan. He was extremely fond of sports and that made our relationship so much friendly and never did I think of Zubair as my boss. It was such an informal relationship and I remember after having lunch, we always used to discuss various sports in general including cricket, football etc. The rest of the finance department would also be encouraged by our conversation to take part.

Shifting to a new Venue

The atmosphere would be so exciting and one did not feel as if you were in an office. IBM during the nineties was located in Avari Plaza which was situated right next to Avari Towers. We got the news that IBM will be shifting to a new building located on Shara-e-Faisal. I remember going there to lay the foundation of the building. We were all definitely going to miss Avari Towers and we used to go for lunch a lot to Bake’n’Take which was a very popular eating place at Avari Towers in those days. As we used to often sit late during the month of fasting, which meant we would often open our fast at Bake’n’Take. We would definitely remember these things as well as being excited about going to a new venue.

New building more convenient for Me

The new building consisted of 12 floors and the finance department would be on the 12th floor. The building was owned by IBM and a lot of money had been spent on it. It indeed was very impressive and spacious compared to the cramped space we had in Avari Plaza. Over there we just had one floor compared to twelve floors we had here. All the electricity here was run on generators and there would be no question of not having electricity here. It indeed was a far cry from the experience we had in Avari Plaza. I remember during the summers when it used to be boiling hot, there used to be no electricity at the office for the entire day. Me and my friend Zahir used to come dressed in tee shirts to avoid the heat. No electricity in the building also meant no lifts and during that time when I used to walk using a walker, it meant my coming by the stairs for 3 floors. It indeed was a relief to get rid of that problem.

Very wheelchair friendly Washrooms

For me the only apprehension in the new building was the washroom. I remember at Avari Plaza there being a single washroom which was at quite a distance from our department. So indeed it was quite a struggle for me to get to the washroom and there were not wheelchair friendly. What Zubair, my manager went on to do is what makes him so special and caring. While the building was being made he had my wheelchair taken to the new premises for measurements, so that the washroom being made could accommodate my wheelchair. When the building was ready and I went to check the washroom, I discovered that every floor had got washrooms. When I went to the 12th floor I found out that a separate washroom had been made for me and totally wheelchair friendly. There were rods fitted on each side to help me hold onto something while getting out of the wheelchair.

One caring Family

Zubair also made sure that my seat was spacious and was located near the exit. My seat would be close to his room which would enable him to keep an eye on me. There would be number of people who would help me in the washroom. It showed that our department was very friendly and we used to help each other like one big family. For this the credit goes to our boss Zubair being such a bold, helpful and caring person. He used to care for everyone in the department and was liked by everyone. For me he is very special and what he did very few people can ever do that.

Memorable time at IBM

In conclusion I would like to say that the time spent in IBM of over 15 years was truly memorable and unforgettable for me. Spending 15 years at one place reminds you of so many events and incidents that took place. There were innumerable occasions of having fun and enjoying with various people in various departments. There used to be a lady by the name of Naseem Muraj who was my boss Zubair’s secretary. She was a very loving person and used to console everyone in the department when there was something wrong with them. Some of my best and true friends were made in IBM namely Zahir, Asim, Najib, Sophia and Aana.

Nostalgic Time

Every summer internees from different colleges and universities used to intern at IBM up to 6 weeks. I also got to know some of the internees well and were quite friendly. I definitely had the time of my life at IBM and to leave after15 years was not easy to do. I remember being given a farewell lunch by my department before leaving. I was asked to make a farewell speech by my department and it indeed was a nostalgic moment for me. People were very surprised to see me leave and asked me not to go. I do visit IBM sometimes recently and it is a great feeling I get when I go there. People have not forgotten me and they give me a warm welcome on seeing me. A few individuals have changed in the finance department since my being there. My friend Zahir has become the CFO ( Chief Financial Officer) after Zubair who retired. Next month IBM will again be shifting to a new building which will also be located at Shahra-e-Faisal.

Briefly I will talk about the new building which IBM has shifted into. I have been there a couple of times and it is very impressive. You can see that IBM is doing very well as a company from the amount of money that has been spent on the floor they occupy. They have 1 floor in the building which is huge and very spacious. The whole layout and the design is very eye catching. Whenever I go to IBM it brings back the olden memories when I was in IBM. Everyone in IBM comes to meet me and make me feel so welcome. IBM will always remain a part of my life.

My time spent at IBM

Getting started at IBM

I would also like to talk about the time spent in IBM over 15 years which was definitely memorable and very enjoyable time. I had started by doing computer courses and went on to work for them. After completing my A-levels I had joined IBM as I was interested in computers. IBM being one of the most successful computer companies in modern times. As the then Managing Director of IBM was a good friend of my father, he offered me a job and I joined the finance department in IBM. I had been diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia before joining IBM and I used to use a walker for walking. I remember taking rounds of the building using my walker and it felt great.

My transfer into a wheelchair happened while I was in IBM, due to my legs getting weak and making it impossible for me to walk. Let me say that the entire staff and employees of IBM were extremely caring and gave me all their support and courage. They made sure that my seat had a lot of space to maneuver and all my work was done on the computer. I did not need to do any running around for my work which made it very comfortable for me.

I made a lot of great friends a IBM. At one point and time we were five to six friends all working together in the finance department. It was one of the most enjoyable and memorable time I ever had. We used to joke, laugh, tease one another and also used to do our work at the same time. We were extremely lucky to have some extremely understanding managers who would also used to joke with us and engage in some interesting conversation with us today. The atmosphere used to be so entertaining and exciting.

A.F. FERGUSON

A.F. Ferguson which was an audit company and was headed by my father at that time used to do the audit of IBM. Their team compromised of some young boys who were extremely friendly with me. I remember when their team came over for the audit of IBM, we had a ball of a time, used to go for lunch and joke all the time. There were a couple of female auditors with whom I became friends and have kept in touch with them to this day. One of them is among my best friends and her name is Aana. She is married now and lives in England. I always try to meet her when I go to England.

The Best Boss I have ever Had

My story on IBM would not be complete without mentioning my boss Mohammad Zubair. He I would say has been the most caring, understanding and friendly boss I have ever had. In the beginning of my joining IBM, I had a female boss by the name of Ferial. She also was very caring and an extremely friendly person. She also gave me an award for my work at IBM. Ferial was my boss for a couple of years in the mid-nineties before she went abroad. By that time Zubair had come from Europe to become the Chief Financial Officer of Pakistan. He was extremely fond of sports and that made our relationship so much friendly and never did I think of Zubair as my boss. It was such an informal relationship and I remember after having lunch, we always used to discuss various sports in general including cricket, football etc. The rest of the finance department would also be encouraged by our conversation to take part.

Shifting to a new Venue

The atmosphere would be so exciting and one did not feel as if you were in an office. IBM during the nineties was located in Avari Plaza which was situated right next to Avari Towers. We got the news that IBM will be shifting to a new building located on Shara-e-Faisal. I remember going there to lay the foundation of the building. We were all definitely going to miss Avari Towers and we used to go for lunch a lot to Bake’n’Take which was a very popular eating place at Avari Towers in those days. As we used to often sit late during the month of fasting, which meant we would often open our fast at Bake’n’Take. We would definitely remember these things as well as being excited about going to a new venue.

New building more convenient for Me

The new building consisted of 12 floors and the finance department would be on the 12th floor. The building was owned by IBM and a lot of money had been spent on it. It indeed was very impressive and spacious compared to the cramped space we had in Avari Plaza. Over there we just had one floor compared to twelve floors we had here. All the electricity here was run on generators and there would be no question of not having electricity here. It indeed was a far cry from the experience we had in Avari Plaza. I remember during the summers when it used to be boiling hot, there used to be no electricity at the office for the entire day. Me and my friend Zahir used to come dressed in tee shirts to avoid the heat. No electricity in the building also meant no lifts and during that time when I used to walk using a walker, it meant my coming by the stairs for 3 floors. It indeed was a relief to get rid of that problem.

Very wheelchair friendly Washrooms

For me the only apprehension in the new building was the washroom. I remember at Avari Plaza there being a single washroom which was at quite a distance from our department. So indeed it was quite a struggle for me to get to the washroom and there were not wheelchair friendly. What Zubair, my manager went on to do is what makes him so special and caring. While the building was being made he had my wheelchair taken to the new premises for measurements, so that the washroom being made could accommodate my wheelchair. When the building was ready and I went to check the washroom, I discovered that every floor had got washrooms. When I went to the 12th floor I found out that a separate washroom had been made for me and totally wheelchair friendly. There were rods fitted on each side to help me hold onto something while getting out of the wheelchair.

One caring Family

Zubair also made sure that my seat was spacious and was located near the exit. My seat would be close to his room which would enable him to keep an eye on me. There would be number of people who would help me in the washroom. It showed that our department was very friendly and we used to help each other like one big family. For this the credit goes to our boss Zubair being such a bold, helpful and caring person. He used to care for everyone in the department and was liked by everyone. For me he is very special and what he did very few people can ever do that.

Memorable time at IBM

In conclusion I would like to say that the time spent in IBM of over 15 years was truly memorable and unforgettable for me. Spending 15 years at one place reminds you of so many events and incidents that took place. There were innumerable occasions of having fun and enjoying with various people in various departments. There used to be a lady by the name of Naseem Muraj who was my boss Zubair’s secretary. She was a very loving person and used to console everyone in the department when there was something wrong with them. Some of my best and true friends were made in IBM namely Zahir, Asim, Najib, Sophia and Aana.

Nostalgic Time

Every summer internees from different colleges and universities used to intern at IBM up to 6 weeks. I also got to know some of the internees well and were quite friendly. I definitely had the time of my life at IBM and to leave after15 years was not easy to do. I remember being given a farewell lunch by my department before leaving. I was asked to make a farewell speech by my department and it indeed was a nostalgic moment for me. People were very surprised to see me leave and asked me not to go. I do visit IBM sometimes recently and it is a great feeling I get when I go there. People have not forgotten me and they give me a warm welcome on seeing me. A few individuals have changed in the finance department since my being there. My friend Zahir has become the CFO ( Chief Financial Officer) after Zubair who retired. Next month IBM will again be shifting to a new building which will also be located at Shahra-e-Faisal.

Briefly I will talk about the new building which IBM has shifted into. I have been there a couple of times and it is very impressive. You can see that IBM is doing very well as a company from the amount of money that has been spent on the floor they occupy. They have 1 floor in the building which is huge and very spacious. The whole layout and the design is very eye catching. Whenever I go to IBM it brings back the olden memories when I was in IBM. Everyone in IBM comes to meet me and make me feel so welcome. IBM will always remain a part of my life.

My time spent at IBM

Getting started at IBM

I would also like to talk about the time spent in IBM over 15 years which was definitely memorable and very enjoyable time. I had started by doing computer courses and went on to work for them. After completing my A-levels I had joined IBM as I was interested in computers. IBM being one of the most successful computer companies in modern times. As the then Managing Director of IBM was a good friend of my father, he offered me a job and I joined the finance department in IBM. I had been diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia before joining IBM and I used to use a walker for walking. I remember taking rounds of the building using my walker and it felt great.

My transfer into a wheelchair happened while I was in IBM, due to my legs getting weak and making it impossible for me to walk. Let me say that the entire staff and employees of IBM were extremely caring and gave me all their support and courage. They made sure that my seat had a lot of space to maneuver and all my work was done on the computer. I did not need to do any running around for my work which made it very comfortable for me.

I made a lot of great friends a IBM. At one point and time we were five to six friends all working together in the finance department. It was one of the most enjoyable and memorable time I ever had. We used to joke, laugh, tease one another and also used to do our work at the same time. We were extremely lucky to have some extremely understanding managers who would also used to joke with us and engage in some interesting conversation with us today. The atmosphere used to be so entertaining and exciting.

A.F. FERGUSON

A.F. Ferguson which was an audit company and was headed by my father at that time used to do the audit of IBM. Their team compromised of some young boys who were extremely friendly with me. I remember when their team came over for the audit of IBM, we had a ball of a time, used to go for lunch and joke all the time. There were a couple of female auditors with whom I became friends and have kept in touch with them to this day. One of them is among my best friends and her name is Aana. She is married now and lives in England. I always try to meet her when I go to England.

The Best Boss I have ever Had

My story on IBM would not be complete without mentioning my boss Mohammad Zubair. He I would say has been the most caring, understanding and friendly boss I have ever had. In the beginning of my joining IBM, I had a female boss by the name of Ferial. She also was very caring and an extremely friendly person. She also gave me an award for my work at IBM. Ferial was my boss for a couple of years in the mid-nineties before she went abroad. By that time Zubair had come from Europe to become the Chief Financial Officer of Pakistan. He was extremely fond of sports and that made our relationship so much friendly and never did I think of Zubair as my boss. It was such an informal relationship and I remember after having lunch, we always used to discuss various sports in general including cricket, football etc. The rest of the finance department would also be encouraged by our conversation to take part.

Shifting to a new Venue

The atmosphere would be so exciting and one did not feel as if you were in an office. IBM during the nineties was located in Avari Plaza which was situated right next to Avari Towers. We got the news that IBM will be shifting to a new building located on Shara-e-Faisal. I remember going there to lay the foundation of the building. We were all definitely going to miss Avari Towers and we used to go for lunch a lot to Bake’n’Take which was a very popular eating place at Avari Towers in those days. As we used to often sit late during the month of fasting, which meant we would often open our fast at Bake’n’Take. We would definitely remember these things as well as being excited about going to a new venue.

New building more convenient for Me

The new building consisted of 12 floors and the finance department would be on the 12th floor. The building was owned by IBM and a lot of money had been spent on it. It indeed was very impressive and spacious compared to the cramped space we had in Avari Plaza. Over there we just had one floor compared to twelve floors we had here. All the electricity here was run on generators and there would be no question of not having electricity here. It indeed was a far cry from the experience we had in Avari Plaza. I remember during the summers when it used to be boiling hot, there used to be no electricity at the office for the entire day. Me and my friend Zahir used to come dressed in tee shirts to avoid the heat. No electricity in the building also meant no lifts and during that time when I used to walk using a walker, it meant my coming by the stairs for 3 floors. It indeed was a relief to get rid of that problem.

Very wheelchair friendly Washrooms

For me the only apprehension in the new building was the washroom. I remember at Avari Plaza there being a single washroom which was at quite a distance from our department. So indeed it was quite a struggle for me to get to the washroom and there were not wheelchair friendly. What Zubair, my manager went on to do is what makes him so special and caring. While the building was being made he had my wheelchair taken to the new premises for measurements, so that the washroom being made could accommodate my wheelchair. When the building was ready and I went to check the washroom, I discovered that every floor had got washrooms. When I went to the 12th floor I found out that a separate washroom had been made for me and totally wheelchair friendly. There were rods fitted on each side to help me hold onto something while getting out of the wheelchair.

One caring Family

Zubair also made sure that my seat was spacious and was located near the exit. My seat would be close to his room which would enable him to keep an eye on me. There would be number of people who would help me in the washroom. It showed that our department was very friendly and we used to help each other like one big family. For this the credit goes to our boss Zubair being such a bold, helpful and caring person. He used to care for everyone in the department and was liked by everyone. For me he is very special and what he did very few people can ever do that.

Memorable time at IBM

In conclusion I would like to say that the time spent in IBM of over 15 years was truly memorable and unforgettable for me. Spending 15 years at one place reminds you of so many events and incidents that took place. There were innumerable occasions of having fun and enjoying with various people in various departments. There used to be a lady by the name of Naseem Muraj who was my boss Zubair’s secretary. She was a very loving person and used to console everyone in the department when there was something wrong with them. Some of my best and true friends were made in IBM namely Zahir, Asim, Najib, Sophia and Aana.

Nostalgic Time

Every summer internees from different colleges and universities used to intern at IBM up to 6 weeks. I also got to know some of the internees well and were quite friendly. I definitely had the time of my life at IBM and to leave after15 years was not easy to do. I remember being given a farewell lunch by my department before leaving. I was asked to make a farewell speech by my department and it indeed was a nostalgic moment for me. People were very surprised to see me leave and asked me not to go. I do visit IBM sometimes recently and it is a great feeling I get when I go there. People have not forgotten me and they give me a warm welcome on seeing me. A few individuals have changed in the finance department since my being there. My friend Zahir has become the CFO ( Chief Financial Officer) after Zubair who retired. Next month IBM will again be shifting to a new building which will also be located at Shahra-e-Faisal.

Briefly I will talk about the new building which IBM has shifted into. I have been there a couple of times and it is very impressive. You can see that IBM is doing very well as a company from the amount of money that has been spent on the floor they occupy. They have 1 floor in the building which is huge and very spacious. The whole layout and the design is very eye catching. Whenever I go to IBM it brings back the olden memories when I was in IBM. Everyone in IBM comes to meet me and make me feel so welcome. IBM will always remain a part of my life.

AVATAR what a movie

AVATAR

Last Friday I had gone to see Avatar with my friends at a cinema in Karachi. I had been told by another friend that the movie is a must see on the big screen. How true he was. Everyone was talking so much about the movie that it was one of the greatest movie of it's kind and is well on it's way to become the highest grossing movie of all time.

Naturally after hearing so much praise for the movie, my expectations were very high and I was not to be disappointed. It was a movie of it's kind and you have to see it to experience the feeling you have afterwards. The cinematography, visual effects, sound are just awesome and it definitely is a must see on the big screen. Some of the photography shown in the scenes simply takes your breath away. My friend told me that the effects were amazing and he had not seen such effects in a movie for a long time.

The aliens which are known as avatars are made to look so real and the make up on them is just great. The movie has been directed by the same person who directed "Titanic". You for a minute cannot believe that as both the movies are so different from each other. After the movie ends you are totally in a state of daze like I was. It is a must see movie on the big screen and one which will leave you amazed and awestruck.

Cinemas in Karachi need to be more wheelchair friendly

In conclusion I would like to comment on the cinema where the movie is being played. The theatre known as cineplex are not very wheelchair friendly. Avatar was being shown in cinema 1 which does not have access to a lift. The cinema is located down where as rest of the 4 cinemas are upwards having facilities of a lift. My chair had to be lifted along the stairs by the helpers enroute to the cinema. It was not a pleasant experience and was a dangerous one. It was a risky thing as I could have got hurt had the wheelchair slipped. I must say that the staff at the cinema were helpful and caring. I did express my concern and told the people of having a ramp for the wheelchair. This was the only part of my visit to the cinema which was not enjoyable.

AVATAR what a movie

AVATAR

Last Friday I had gone to see Avatar with my friends at a cinema in Karachi. I had been told by another friend that the movie is a must see on the big screen. How true he was. Everyone was talking so much about the movie that it was one of the greatest movie of it's kind and is well on it's way to become the highest grossing movie of all time.

Naturally after hearing so much praise for the movie, my expectations were very high and I was not to be disappointed. It was a movie of it's kind and you have to see it to experience the feeling you have afterwards. The cinematography, visual effects, sound are just awesome and it definitely is a must see on the big screen. Some of the photography shown in the scenes simply takes your breath away. My friend told me that the effects were amazing and he had not seen such effects in a movie for a long time.

The aliens which are known as avatars are made to look so real and the make up on them is just great. The movie has been directed by the same person who directed "Titanic". You for a minute cannot believe that as both the movies are so different from each other. After the movie ends you are totally in a state of daze like I was. It is a must see movie on the big screen and one which will leave you amazed and awestruck.

Cinemas in Karachi need to be more wheelchair friendly

In conclusion I would like to comment on the cinema where the movie is being played. The theatre known as cineplex are not very wheelchair friendly. Avatar was being shown in cinema 1 which does not have access to a lift. The cinema is located down where as rest of the 4 cinemas are upwards having facilities of a lift. My chair had to be lifted along the stairs by the helpers enroute to the cinema. It was not a pleasant experience and was a dangerous one. It was a risky thing as I could have got hurt had the wheelchair slipped. I must say that the staff at the cinema were helpful and caring. I did express my concern and told the people of having a ramp for the wheelchair. This was the only part of my visit to the cinema which was not enjoyable.

AVATAR what a movie

AVATAR

Last Friday I had gone to see Avatar with my friends at a cinema in Karachi. I had been told by another friend that the movie is a must see on the big screen. How true he was. Everyone was talking so much about the movie that it was one of the greatest movie of it's kind and is well on it's way to become the highest grossing movie of all time.

Naturally after hearing so much praise for the movie, my expectations were very high and I was not to be disappointed. It was a movie of it's kind and you have to see it to experience the feeling you have afterwards. The cinematography, visual effects, sound are just awesome and it definitely is a must see on the big screen. Some of the photography shown in the scenes simply takes your breath away. My friend told me that the effects were amazing and he had not seen such effects in a movie for a long time.

The aliens which are known as avatars are made to look so real and the make up on them is just great. The movie has been directed by the same person who directed "Titanic". You for a minute cannot believe that as both the movies are so different from each other. After the movie ends you are totally in a state of daze like I was. It is a must see movie on the big screen and one which will leave you amazed and awestruck.

Cinemas in Karachi need to be more wheelchair friendly

In conclusion I would like to comment on the cinema where the movie is being played. The theatre known as cineplex are not very wheelchair friendly. Avatar was being shown in cinema 1 which does not have access to a lift. The cinema is located down where as rest of the 4 cinemas are upwards having facilities of a lift. My chair had to be lifted along the stairs by the helpers enroute to the cinema. It was not a pleasant experience and was a dangerous one. It was a risky thing as I could have got hurt had the wheelchair slipped. I must say that the staff at the cinema were helpful and caring. I did express my concern and told the people of having a ramp for the wheelchair. This was the only part of my visit to the cinema which was not enjoyable.

My disease: Friedrich's Ataxia

Walker

Being diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia effectively ended my chances of going for higher studies abroad. I decided not to pursue with my studies anymore, as the disease was gradually making it more difficult for me to walk. After doing my A-levels at KGS I decided to give up my studies and concentrate on things that interested me. By this time I had stopped wearing a brace for my back and was now in the process of walking with a walker. The walker provided me assistance and prevented me from falling down in the beginning. With the passage of time it apparently got more tough for me to use the walker and I was beginning to fall down a lot.

Symptoms of Ataxia

I was again examined by the doctor to find out the reason for my falling frequently. I had been told that I had Friedrich’s Ataxia before and was told that my lower muscles were weakening and I got the shocking news that I would be transferred into a wheelchair. With that also came the news that I might not be able to walk again. Friedrich’s ataxia was a genetic disease and it caused progressive damage to the nervous system. It had a number of symptoms involved including loss of hearing, speech problem, etc. By the grace of God I have not had these symptoms effect me too much. There are slight traces of some of these symptoms which is natural but on the whole I have lived a problem free life. Things are very different these days compared to the old times. There has been so much progress in medicine and there is so much research going on in the field of ataxia, which makes me so optimistic about this disease being curable in the near future.

Swimming

The doctors examining me each year in England are very delighted by my progress and have asked me to keep it up. They are very impressed by the fact that I swim regularly and do up to 20 laps. Swimming has been my passion and I get a great deal of motivation from it. The doctors have also me to lose weight to make life easier and more comfortable for me. I do know the lighter I am the easier it will be to manage myself and for other people to handle me. The encouragement I used to get from the doctors used to make me and my parents very happy and used to be reflected in our attitude in general.

Transfer in a Wheelchair

It indeed was totally different in the olden times when I was told about having to transfer in a wheelchair and having been told that I may never be able to walk again. It felt as if my life had come to a standstill, with all my ambitions and dreams shattered. I was 20 at that time and in the prime of my life. The first thought which came to my mind was “ Why me”. At that time nothing seemed to make sense to me and I was totally depressed.

Going for Trips

I remembered the time when I had no problems and took pleasure trips abroad with my parents and their friends. We went to the US and really had quality time there. We visited Disney World and I remember going to Las Vegas, seeing all their grand Casinos. It really was a memorable and enjoyable trip. This trip for the record was taken in the mid-eighties. Another trip where I had a lot of fun was during my visit to the northern areas of Pakistan. I totally fell in love with the beautiful hilly and mountainous Nathiagali. The best part was the lovely weather and the fresh food. That was indeed the highlight of my visit.

During the eighties before being transferred in a wheelchair I remember making a number of trips to America. During that period I remember also visiting my friend in Boston who was studying there. We had a great tine together doing a lot of sight seeing and he showed me the campus of Bentley University where he was studying. These really were memorable times I had and was left to wonder weather I would have the same fun and enjoyment being in a wheelchair.

Advantages of a Wheelchair

It took a lot of comforting from the doctors who told me the benefits of being in a wheelchair. The benefit of going from one place to another quickly thus minimizing the risk of falling down and hurting myself. New hurdles and obstacles had begun to come in my way including stairs. I realized the advantages of being in a wheelchair and decided to take it up as a challenge. Living in Pakistan on a wheelchair was not easy with Pakistan not at all catered to the physically challenged people. People used to stare at you as if being in a wheelchair was considered a crime. When I look back to those times, I made the grave mistake of allowing people to feel sorry and having pity on me.

Support of my Parents

I have come a long way and have learnt a lot from those instances. Nowadays I totally despise someone having pity on me. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the best of things including clubs, going to the best eating places and able to afford going abroad every year. All these things had a very positive impact on my life and made it more worthwhile living. For this I am grateful to my parents who made sure I had all the benefits and advantages available to me being in a wheelchair. Naturally it was very difficult for them to see me transfer into a wheelchair, I being the only child of my parents. It has been through their tremendous support and encouragement that has enabled me to be where I am today. They have always stood by me at all times and have always tried their very best in trying to make me happy and content in life.

Having a Positive Attitude in Life

In the beginning this wheelchair felt like a prison for me because it confined me from where I wanted to go and prevented me from what I wanted to do. Like they say it is not the problems that determine your state it is your attitude towards it. If you can stay cheerful when confronted with a problem half the problem is automatically solved. It is also very imperative to have a positive attitude in life when faced with an obstacle in life like I was. Here I would say that being the only child of my parents definitely made life tougher for me in the beginning. The reason for that all the attention and focus being on me, which made me feel awkward and nervous at times. Of course there was the advantage of enjoying life to the fullest on my own and the immense freedom I had of being on my own was huge. It meant that being the only child gave me a lot of confidence as to how to live your life alone for the future.

My disease: Friedrich's Ataxia

Walker

Being diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia effectively ended my chances of going for higher studies abroad. I decided not to pursue with my studies anymore, as the disease was gradually making it more difficult for me to walk. After doing my A-levels at KGS I decided to give up my studies and concentrate on things that interested me. By this time I had stopped wearing a brace for my back and was now in the process of walking with a walker. The walker provided me assistance and prevented me from falling down in the beginning. With the passage of time it apparently got more tough for me to use the walker and I was beginning to fall down a lot.

Symptoms of Ataxia

I was again examined by the doctor to find out the reason for my falling frequently. I had been told that I had Friedrich’s Ataxia before and was told that my lower muscles were weakening and I got the shocking news that I would be transferred into a wheelchair. With that also came the news that I might not be able to walk again. Friedrich’s ataxia was a genetic disease and it caused progressive damage to the nervous system. It had a number of symptoms involved including loss of hearing, speech problem, etc. By the grace of God I have not had these symptoms effect me too much. There are slight traces of some of these symptoms which is natural but on the whole I have lived a problem free life. Things are very different these days compared to the old times. There has been so much progress in medicine and there is so much research going on in the field of ataxia, which makes me so optimistic about this disease being curable in the near future.

Swimming

The doctors examining me each year in England are very delighted by my progress and have asked me to keep it up. They are very impressed by the fact that I swim regularly and do up to 20 laps. Swimming has been my passion and I get a great deal of motivation from it. The doctors have also me to lose weight to make life easier and more comfortable for me. I do know the lighter I am the easier it will be to manage myself and for other people to handle me. The encouragement I used to get from the doctors used to make me and my parents very happy and used to be reflected in our attitude in general.

Transfer in a Wheelchair

It indeed was totally different in the olden times when I was told about having to transfer in a wheelchair and having been told that I may never be able to walk again. It felt as if my life had come to a standstill, with all my ambitions and dreams shattered. I was 20 at that time and in the prime of my life. The first thought which came to my mind was “ Why me”. At that time nothing seemed to make sense to me and I was totally depressed.

Going for Trips

I remembered the time when I had no problems and took pleasure trips abroad with my parents and their friends. We went to the US and really had quality time there. We visited Disney World and I remember going to Las Vegas, seeing all their grand Casinos. It really was a memorable and enjoyable trip. This trip for the record was taken in the mid-eighties. Another trip where I had a lot of fun was during my visit to the northern areas of Pakistan. I totally fell in love with the beautiful hilly and mountainous Nathiagali. The best part was the lovely weather and the fresh food. That was indeed the highlight of my visit.

During the eighties before being transferred in a wheelchair I remember making a number of trips to America. During that period I remember also visiting my friend in Boston who was studying there. We had a great tine together doing a lot of sight seeing and he showed me the campus of Bentley University where he was studying. These really were memorable times I had and was left to wonder weather I would have the same fun and enjoyment being in a wheelchair.

Advantages of a Wheelchair

It took a lot of comforting from the doctors who told me the benefits of being in a wheelchair. The benefit of going from one place to another quickly thus minimizing the risk of falling down and hurting myself. New hurdles and obstacles had begun to come in my way including stairs. I realized the advantages of being in a wheelchair and decided to take it up as a challenge. Living in Pakistan on a wheelchair was not easy with Pakistan not at all catered to the physically challenged people. People used to stare at you as if being in a wheelchair was considered a crime. When I look back to those times, I made the grave mistake of allowing people to feel sorry and having pity on me.

Support of my Parents

I have come a long way and have learnt a lot from those instances. Nowadays I totally despise someone having pity on me. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the best of things including clubs, going to the best eating places and able to afford going abroad every year. All these things had a very positive impact on my life and made it more worthwhile living. For this I am grateful to my parents who made sure I had all the benefits and advantages available to me being in a wheelchair. Naturally it was very difficult for them to see me transfer into a wheelchair, I being the only child of my parents. It has been through their tremendous support and encouragement that has enabled me to be where I am today. They have always stood by me at all times and have always tried their very best in trying to make me happy and content in life.

Having a Positive Attitude in Life

In the beginning this wheelchair felt like a prison for me because it confined me from where I wanted to go and prevented me from what I wanted to do. Like they say it is not the problems that determine your state it is your attitude towards it. If you can stay cheerful when confronted with a problem half the problem is automatically solved. It is also very imperative to have a positive attitude in life when faced with an obstacle in life like I was. Here I would say that being the only child of my parents definitely made life tougher for me in the beginning. The reason for that all the attention and focus being on me, which made me feel awkward and nervous at times. Of course there was the advantage of enjoying life to the fullest on my own and the immense freedom I had of being on my own was huge. It meant that being the only child gave me a lot of confidence as to how to live your life alone for the future.

My disease: Friedrich's Ataxia

Walker

Being diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia effectively ended my chances of going for higher studies abroad. I decided not to pursue with my studies anymore, as the disease was gradually making it more difficult for me to walk. After doing my A-levels at KGS I decided to give up my studies and concentrate on things that interested me. By this time I had stopped wearing a brace for my back and was now in the process of walking with a walker. The walker provided me assistance and prevented me from falling down in the beginning. With the passage of time it apparently got more tough for me to use the walker and I was beginning to fall down a lot.

Symptoms of Ataxia

I was again examined by the doctor to find out the reason for my falling frequently. I had been told that I had Friedrich’s Ataxia before and was told that my lower muscles were weakening and I got the shocking news that I would be transferred into a wheelchair. With that also came the news that I might not be able to walk again. Friedrich’s ataxia was a genetic disease and it caused progressive damage to the nervous system. It had a number of symptoms involved including loss of hearing, speech problem, etc. By the grace of God I have not had these symptoms effect me too much. There are slight traces of some of these symptoms which is natural but on the whole I have lived a problem free life. Things are very different these days compared to the old times. There has been so much progress in medicine and there is so much research going on in the field of ataxia, which makes me so optimistic about this disease being curable in the near future.

Swimming

The doctors examining me each year in England are very delighted by my progress and have asked me to keep it up. They are very impressed by the fact that I swim regularly and do up to 20 laps. Swimming has been my passion and I get a great deal of motivation from it. The doctors have also me to lose weight to make life easier and more comfortable for me. I do know the lighter I am the easier it will be to manage myself and for other people to handle me. The encouragement I used to get from the doctors used to make me and my parents very happy and used to be reflected in our attitude in general.

Transfer in a Wheelchair

It indeed was totally different in the olden times when I was told about having to transfer in a wheelchair and having been told that I may never be able to walk again. It felt as if my life had come to a standstill, with all my ambitions and dreams shattered. I was 20 at that time and in the prime of my life. The first thought which came to my mind was “ Why me”. At that time nothing seemed to make sense to me and I was totally depressed.

Going for Trips

I remembered the time when I had no problems and took pleasure trips abroad with my parents and their friends. We went to the US and really had quality time there. We visited Disney World and I remember going to Las Vegas, seeing all their grand Casinos. It really was a memorable and enjoyable trip. This trip for the record was taken in the mid-eighties. Another trip where I had a lot of fun was during my visit to the northern areas of Pakistan. I totally fell in love with the beautiful hilly and mountainous Nathiagali. The best part was the lovely weather and the fresh food. That was indeed the highlight of my visit.

During the eighties before being transferred in a wheelchair I remember making a number of trips to America. During that period I remember also visiting my friend in Boston who was studying there. We had a great tine together doing a lot of sight seeing and he showed me the campus of Bentley University where he was studying. These really were memorable times I had and was left to wonder weather I would have the same fun and enjoyment being in a wheelchair.

Advantages of a Wheelchair

It took a lot of comforting from the doctors who told me the benefits of being in a wheelchair. The benefit of going from one place to another quickly thus minimizing the risk of falling down and hurting myself. New hurdles and obstacles had begun to come in my way including stairs. I realized the advantages of being in a wheelchair and decided to take it up as a challenge. Living in Pakistan on a wheelchair was not easy with Pakistan not at all catered to the physically challenged people. People used to stare at you as if being in a wheelchair was considered a crime. When I look back to those times, I made the grave mistake of allowing people to feel sorry and having pity on me.

Support of my Parents

I have come a long way and have learnt a lot from those instances. Nowadays I totally despise someone having pity on me. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the best of things including clubs, going to the best eating places and able to afford going abroad every year. All these things had a very positive impact on my life and made it more worthwhile living. For this I am grateful to my parents who made sure I had all the benefits and advantages available to me being in a wheelchair. Naturally it was very difficult for them to see me transfer into a wheelchair, I being the only child of my parents. It has been through their tremendous support and encouragement that has enabled me to be where I am today. They have always stood by me at all times and have always tried their very best in trying to make me happy and content in life.

Having a Positive Attitude in Life

In the beginning this wheelchair felt like a prison for me because it confined me from where I wanted to go and prevented me from what I wanted to do. Like they say it is not the problems that determine your state it is your attitude towards it. If you can stay cheerful when confronted with a problem half the problem is automatically solved. It is also very imperative to have a positive attitude in life when faced with an obstacle in life like I was. Here I would say that being the only child of my parents definitely made life tougher for me in the beginning. The reason for that all the attention and focus being on me, which made me feel awkward and nervous at times. Of course there was the advantage of enjoying life to the fullest on my own and the immense freedom I had of being on my own was huge. It meant that being the only child gave me a lot of confidence as to how to live your life alone for the future.

My time spent at Karachi Grammar School

Before moving on I would like to talk about Karachi Grammar School. It definitely was one of the best schools in the country and it helped me gain a lot of knowledge. The teachers were all very supportive towards me. I would like to make special mention of the Principal Ms Mujahid who is also there now. Nowadays KGS( Karachi Grammar School) is located in Clifton. The manner in which Ms Mujahid welcomed me in giving a motivational talk will remain fresh in my memory.

I remember going there a couple of times and really the building was immaculate and so clean. It reminded me of the days when the school was located in the hustle and bustle area of Sadaar. There is a small batch of the school still there. It would make me think as to how lucky the students are these days who have not had to study in the old building. KGS definitely improved my English which has helped me in all walks of life.

Using the walker

Being diagnosed of Friedrich’s Ataxia effectively ended my chances of going for higher studies abroad. I decided not to pursue with my studies anymore, as the disease was gradually making it more difficult for me to walk. After doing my A-levels at KGS I decided to give up my studies and concentrate on things that interested me. By this time I had stopped wearing a brace for my back and was now in the process of walking with a walker. The walker provided me assistance and prevented me from falling down in the beginning. With the passage of time it apparently got more tough for me to use the walker and I was beginning to fall down a lot.