Journey of Strength

Affan Hashmi is a handsome 16 years old teenager whose special need journey started 36 hours after his birth. He was born in TATA Motors hospital, Jamshedpur with neonatal epilepsy, and after 28 days of uncontrolled seizures in the NICU, he was shifted to AIIMS, New Delhi. He was diagnosed with over seven different physical, neurological, and a rare genetic disorder, making him 90% disabled. After 3 months of stay in the hospital, he was discharged in a vegetative state, where he was neither able to cry nor move his body.

Once he stabilized, his therapy was intensified with 6 hrs of therapy every day, and finally he started walking at the age of 2.5 years, but till today he needs therapies to sustain this milestone. At the age of 3, autism entered his life with its own challenges. More therapies started and after 10 years of silence he said “MUMMA” for the first time. Now he has entered his teenage, which has its own challenges.

Affan has been overcoming barriers since the day he was born. He was a child, who according to paediatric neurologist, was supposed to stay in a vegetative state but he is walking, running and swimming, and has almost overcome most of the physical barriers. With regular desensitization and exposure to new atmosphere, he has overcome many sensory overloads though few still exist. With the help of a strict diet and supplements, he has overcome his gut issues and weak immune system. With new teaching strategies, he is trying to overcome the educational barriers and most importantly he has overcome his epilepsy and is not on any anti-epileptic drugs for the last 10 years. Every day comes with new challenges and we look for techniques to cope up with it.

Standing tall at 6 feet 3 inches, Affan has set a world record for being the tallest teenager in the special abled category by World Wide Book of Records, India book of Records, and World Record India.

Though height is God-gifted, his credibility lies in doing therapy for the last 16 years with consistency, resilience and determination. With regular therapies, exercises, strict diet, supplements and swimming, the parent-Affan-physiotherapist trio believes in working together to keep his body straight, and it took us months and years to manage even an inch of increment in his height because of muscle tightness and other physical issues. His towering height is not just a physical attribute but a symbol of inner strength, grit and positive mindset. He has not only broken barriers but also shattered stereotypes surrounding specially-abled individuals.

His record-breaking feat serves as a powerful reminder that uniqueness should be celebrated rather than shunned. Affan’s achievement carries a profound message of hope and resilience.

His journey reminds us of the beauty of diversity and the importance of celebrating each person’s unique qualities. By embracing his uniqueness and defying expectations, he has shown that there is strength in diversity and power in embracing one’s true self. His journey serves as a powerful reminder that greatness comes in all shapes and sizes, and that true success lies in staying true to oneself.

Zeba Hashmi