Karachi: Arfa Randhawa has known the art of survival since the time of her birth in 1995 when she miraculously escaped a complication whereby the umbilical cord wraps around the baby's neck. Her sparkling eyes held promise of great things in life.
And she fulfilled that promise at the age of nine when she became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) to win the admiration of Bill Gates and the world.
Arfa is back in the news although on a grim note as she struggles for life in a military hospital in Lahore. The reason for her hospitalisation is a condition that is theoretically taught to medical students but the probability of anyone suffering it is actually one in a billion.
"Since her birth she has been unique. She survived birth-cord-neck when was born and now she suffers from a condition which is rarely heard of," Amjad Randhawa, the father of the 22-year-old said.
"I believe she will do wonders again and will come back to life," said Amjad holding fast to hope.
Concerned nation
Arfa survived a cardiac arrest after an epileptic seizure some three weeks ago and was admitted to Lahore's Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in a critical condition. Not only are the 180 million people of the country waiting on her return to good health but her mentors including Bill Gates are concerned about her well being.
The epileptic seizure has caused severe heart and brain damage, according to doctor attending on Arfa. This ultimately led to a heart attack, and now she's on life support systems.
"Bill Gates appointed a team of doctors who are constantly in touch with the medical team treating Arfa," Amjad told Gulf News.
The eldest daughter of her parents, Arfa started demonstrating her precocious talents when she was just two-and-a-half years old. She would recite Naat — poems praising Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), enthralling listeners of all ages.
"It is said that one of the basic signs of a bright child is her sense of music," Amjad says. "And she has a great sense of not only the melody but lyrics and every rise and fall of the notes."
Fond memories
The Randhawa family was honoured when Arfa won the title of the youngest MCP in the world.
Television channels and newspapers published her interviews, giving due recognition to her talent.
Amjad, a retired colonel of the Pakistan army, still recalls a reception in Dubai extended by overseas Pakistanis to Arfa."It was wonderful and the next day I saw a very impressive coverage of the event in Gulf News," he says.
Arfa always set high goals in life. "It is just a beginning," she told an interviewer at Pakistan Television after shooting to MCP acclaim. "I have many targets in life and there is always room on the top," she said.
A Pakistani website seeking prayers for Arfa attracted tens of hundreds entries with people leaving their best wishes and prayers for her quick recovery.
