My Story

When I was 17, I lost my parents in the Boxing Day tsunami.  One of the deadliest disasters recorded in human history. My siblings and I became the largest orphaned family to survive it. With nothing but each other, we hitchhiked through a shattered country, unsure if we’d make it to the next day. I’ve built schools in my parents’ memory. I’ve created a brand that’s helped thousands of children around the world.​​​​​​​​​​​

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Years later, just as life began to feel steady again, sepsis nearly took my life. I survived, but not without cost. I was told I’d never be able to have a family of my own. ​On the outside, life moved forward. Quietly, some grief stayed behind. Not everything can be fixed but it can be carried. What I’ve learned is this: rebuilding isn’t about erasing what happened. It’s about lifting your head when everything tells you to keep it down. It’s about continuing, even when the future feels smaller than it once did.

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If you’re finding your footing right now, this is for you. You’re not weak for struggling. You’re human. And strength isn’t something you’re missing, it’s something you rediscover by taking the next step, however small.

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Even from the darkest moments, something meaningful can grow.

Not by forgetting. But by choosing not to just exist.

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