Sherifah Delia.
Sharifah Delia.
A Journey of Strength and Triumph
Born prematurely, Delia’s life was in jeopardy from the start. At just five days old, her heart stopped, leading to a severe stage 3 intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Doctors gave little hope, predicting that Delia would never see, hear, speak, walk, or even survive. Their grim prognosis seemed unavoidable as Delia’s condition worsened in the ICU.
During her time there, Delia battled a series of life-threatening complications—brain infection, ventriculitis, pneumonia, silent seizures, and meningitis—all wrapped into one. At just two weeks old, she underwent her first brain surgery, shattering her family’s hearts. At eight weeks, she faced her second surgery. Despite the overwhelming odds, one doctor’s words brought hope: “We won’t surrender until the last heartbeat.” This sentiment reflected the resilience that carried Delia through these dark times.
After three months in the ICU, Delia was discharged without medication. She defied the odds by passing all motor, speech, hearing, and vision tests. At age 4, an MRI revealed the blood clot in her brain had disappeared, meaning she no longer depended on the shunt placed inside her brain.
Her recovery wasn’t without struggle. Daily therapies pushed her through exhaustion, frustration, and pain. Yet, Delia’s determination never faltered, and with each passing day, she grew stronger.
Now, at 11 years old, Delia reads, writes, sings, swims, and even snorkels. She’s a vibrant, energetic girl who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, especially with her two older sisters, whom she loves dearly. Her sisters treat her just like anyone else, fostering her independence and resilience. As her mother reflects, "How fragile life is, and we should seize every moment with laughter and love. Delia came into this life to rescue me, instead of me rescuing her—teaching me about life and how wonderful it is."
Delia has traveled the world, from Istanbul to Korea, Europe, and Japan—her favorite destination thanks to her love of raw salmon. Her remarkable journey has had a profound impact on her family, reminding them of the power of resilience, hope, and the grace of miracles.
