Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email By WANI MUTHIAH
TWO years ago M. Aguna Vinothmikha’s life came crashing down when she was seriously injured in a horrific accident, which also claimed the lives of her three friends.
However, even though her bones were broken, Aguna’s willpower remained strong and helped her achieve her ultimate dream of enrolling into a public university.
The 22-year-old is currently a first year chemical engineering undergraduate at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Scudai, Johor.
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A survivor: Aguna with her mother Muniam Narayanasamy.
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“I fought very hard to get back on my feet as well as to preserve my sanity amid the physical and emotional pain,” said Aguna.
She added that what annoyed her most was when people inquired if her brain and memory were still all right.
“There’s so much prejudice levelled against accident survivors,” said Aguna, adding that it was these queries which also prompted her to push herself hard.
The tragedy occurred in Aug 2005 when Aguna and four friends, all of whom were from SM Tunku Besar, Tampin, were on their way to attend tuition in Sikamat in preparation for the STPM when their car collided with a lorry.
Her best friend M. Subashini as well as two others S. Kalai Selvi and R. Sangeeta died while another girl, V. Jeevatha escaped with injuries to her face and head.
Aguna, who is from Bahau, Negri Sembilan, sustained head and eye injuries, a broken pelvis and four broken ribs, which punctured one of her lungs.
Her jawbones were broken and four of her front teeth were knocked out. She also suffered from minor fractures in her arm and leg.
“I was literally dead but I think the will to live helped me scrape through,” said Aguna who spent four months in hospital and another seven months recuperating at home.
She went back to school in August last year but managed to attend class for only 20 days as pain prevented her from sitting down for long hours.
Not wanting to waste any more time Aguna sat for the STPM and managed to score four Bs.
In spite of the suffering that she had undergone, she says she was lucky to get a second chance.
“I could have ended-up being a vegetable or emotionally unstable to continue with my dreams of becoming a professional,” said Aguna who had scored straight As for both her PMR and SPM examinations.
She added that her only regret was that Subhashini did not make it through the ordeal.
“Subashini and I planned to get all As for the STPM in order to do medicine in one of the public universities here.
“I am sad that our dream died with her in that accident. I really miss her a lot,” said Aguna who had undergone four major surgeries.
