By Louis Chan, AsAmNews National Correspondent
A Hofstra University Student in Long Island underwent additional surgery this month more than one year after an assailant threw acid on her face, causing her to lose vision in her right eye and leaving severe burns to her face, eyes, neck, and hands.
In an update on her Go Fund Me page which has raised more than $550,000 and is still growing, Nafiah Fatima wrote Saturday about the mental anxiety and fatigue she felt on the one-year anniversary of the incident on March 17.
“I was not taking it well and mentally I was in no place to be writing anything other than my thoughts down in my journal,” the Muslim American wrote about why she didn’t post an update on the anniversary date. “I sincerely apologize for the late update! I know you all were expecting one on the one-year anniversary.”
She explained she longs to live a “normal life like she used to and to feel 22.” She acknowledged being dependent on her parents for even simple things like showering, dressing, and undressing-hinting at frustration.
On March 8 she had surgery on her shoulder and described the recovery of her burns and surgical areas “SO painful and exhausting for my parents and myself but somehow we’re pushing through it.”
One year later, her attacker remains on the loose and frustration is beginning to set in.
“Honestly it gets me very aggravated because if all circles back to the thought of WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THIS TO ME!,” she wrote in all caps.
The FBI recently joined the investigation.
At a news conference on Thursday, NBC4 reported the family called on the assailant to come forward.
“We did not know that we are going to be here looking for this person who has damaged my daughter’s life for the rest of her life,” Sherina Mohamed, Ikram’s mother, said.
Despite the pain she had endured, Fatima said she is trying to remain positive.
“It doesn’t matter what you own, or what you wear — it matters what’s in your heart and more importantly your soul. So always remember to stay positive, resilient, optimistic no matter what life throws at you, and most importantly, continue being yourself. Don’t let anyone steal your shine my loves,” she concluded.
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