Rising above disability: Carrina Moodley's journey of faith, courage and determination

AS the country commemorates National Disability Rights Awareness Month and International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3,  the POST spoke to this inspiring young woman, who has not allowed her disability to hold her back from achieving success. 

WHILE losing her sight and mobility changed every aspect of her life, it deepened Carrina Moodley’s faith and strengthened her determination. 

Moodley, 32, of Chatsworth, said as a child it was always her goal make her parents and herself proud, which led her to tackle every challenge head-on. 

While in primary school she was the head prefect and recipient of the Dux award. 

Moodley said after completing her matric, she went on to pursue her passion for civil engineering and earned her N6 qualification in 2013. 

She said from 2016 to 2018, she completed her in-service training with Basil Read Construction, where she gained practical experience and obtained a national technical diploma.

“I always believed that we should not try to be like others but be better versions of ourselves. I found myself competing with every challenge I encountered. I later decided to choose a career that was challenging to me and one which would help develop the world.”

However, in 2018, soon after completing her in-service training, her health began to decline.

“Despite undergoing numerous medical investigations over the next three years, I received no clear diagnosis until I ultimately lost my eyesight. Two months after my 27th birthday, I woke up one morning in complete darkness and thought it was load-shedding. It was then discovered that I had meningioma, a tumour that grows from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

“I had emergency surgery and spent three months in hospital recovering, and then a month at a rehabilitation facility. However, during my recovery, I suffered a stroke on my left side, which affected my mobility and independence.”

Moodley said the journey that followed was “incredibly challenging”. 

“Losing both my sight and mobility changed every aspect of my life, but it also deepened my faith and strengthened my determination. Even though I now relied on assistance for daily activities, I refused to let these limitations define me. Instead, I choose to see every day as an opportunity to grow, learn, and inspire others,” she said. 

Moodley said she began rebuilding her life with the support of the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society. 

“I studied Braille and completed a computer course, both of which have given me a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. I also explored my creativity by joining a culinary class for the blind, proving to myself that adaptation and determination can turn obstacles into achievements.”

Moodley said through all of her experiences, she believed that “failure is not an option, but a learning experience”.

“My life is grounded in the values of faith, love, and hope, which continue to guide me forward. I am profoundly grateful to God for giving me strength and a new perspective on life, as well as to my family for their constant support.

“Every challenge I have faced has become a stepping stone to a new version of myself stronger, wiser, and more compassionate. I am inspired by people who overcome adversities and rise above such as motivational speaker, Nick Vujicic, who was born without arms or legs. 

“Today, I continue to face challenges, including the regrowth of my tumour. But I choose to face each day with gratitude and courage, because I know that my story is not about what I have lost, but about what I have found within myself,” she said. 

Moodley said she hoped that her journey of determination would inspire others. 

“I want to share with others that no matter what you face, be it  illness, loss, or uncertainty, you can rebuild and rise again. The human spirit, when fuelled by faith, love, and hope, knows no limits.

“My advice to others is that when faced with any difficulty, we should never give up, and to see beyond their circumstances and walk boldly into their destiny,” she said. 

Moodley added that while South Africa had strong disability rights laws, more needed to be done to ensure real inclusion.

“We need greater access to education and skills training, more inclusive employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, accessible technology and infrastructure. Above all, our mindset must evolve as disability is not a limitation, but another expression of equal ability, dignity, and value.”

THE POST