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You have a bright future ahead of you and your wheelchair won’t stop you from doing anything.”
This quote and motto is reflected in the life story of Nafitalai Uluinikorotabu, a story filled with tragedy but also with perseverance, faith and personal triumph.
The 34-year-old, fondly known as Nafi to family and friends, hails from Navukbuli village in Makwata, Northern Province, and was born and raised in Suva.
The Sunday Times recently spoke to Nafi, who opened up about how a tragic accident early in life shaped his outlook and journey.
“I have three siblings. I’m the fourth. I always thought of myself as the youngest, but the smartest,” he said with a laugh.
“I grew up in a typical iTaukei family, the church played a big role in my life and I was always taught to respect my elders.”
After completing his primary education at Suva International School and Holy Trinity Anglican School, Nafi attended the prestigious Queen Victoria School in Matawatuku, Tailevu for secondary school. It was at this stage in his life that Nafi made up his mind – he wanted to become a pilot and travel around the world.
But his life was about to change.
The date, December 28, 2005, is forever etched in Nafi’s mind.
“I was in Grade 5 and we went on holiday to our village in Vanua Levu. I went swimming with my cousins and thought the river we were swimming in was deep, but it wasn’t,” he said.
“So, I dived headfirst and broke my spine in three places.”
He lost feeling in his legs and arms once he hit the rocks and his cousins pulled him to safety.
He was taken to Labasa Hospital where he remained for several days before being chartered to Suva.
“Reality hit me when the doctors at Labasa Hospital told me that my spine was broken,” Nafi said.
He was transferred to Tamavouya Hospital, and it was there, Nafi recalls, that he went through the toughest psychological struggle of his life.
“I mean, when you’re 16 and in fifth grade (10th grade), you think you have your whole life ahead of you and you’re planning on going to college, and then all that goes up in smoke.”
“Thoughts of suicide and depression started to bother me badly,” Nafi said.
However, Nafi said his pillars of strength during his six months at Tamawa Rehabilitation Center were his faith and family.
“It’s just young people visiting from my church, The Potter’s House Church. I consider them my brothers and sisters and they just continue to visit me and I see the difference in their visits and they continue to encourage me,”
Nafi said that whenever he feels isolated or lonely, he always draws inspiration and comfort from the Bible, Hebrews chapter 13, verse 5.
“It just reminds me that God will never abandon us or forsake us.”
“Even though your friends and family may leave the hospital after their visit, there will always be someone with you and God will always be there for you,” he said.
Nafi also thanked his parents for always ensuring that he was not left alone at home after he was discharged from Tamawa Hospital.
Coming from a large family of about 20 people, he always had company at home, something he was always grateful for.
In 2009, Nafi decided to step out into the real world and create a future for himself.
Nafi was introduced to the cause of people with disabilities by the late Joshko Wakaniyasi who called Nafi’s father and encouraged him to register Nafi as a member of the Spinal Injury Association of Fiji (SIA).
“So my dad drove me to 3 Brown Street, and once I got there, my eyes opened,” he said.
“I see disabled people in wheelchairs, blind or deaf working 9-to-5 jobs, and it inspires me because I know there are people like me who are self-reliant.”
Being a part of SIA and connecting with others who are going through hard times has helped Nafi develop a more positive outlook on life, while his interactions and fellowship at church have helped him build a resilient character.
Nafi is currently the Disability Inclusion Officer at SIA. While he may not have become a pilot, his advocacy work in the disability field has taken him around the world, visiting famous metropolitan cities such as Washington, D.C., USA and Sydney, Australia.
“My main goal is to enable people with disabilities living in Fiji to participate fully and effectively in society.”
“Every morning when I wake up, I remind myself that my job is to get people with disabilities out of their homes, into society and become part of the community.”
“Because I’ve been there. There was a time when I was lying at home, looking at the walls around me, contemplating suicide, thinking that my life was over and there was no point in living.”
Nafi listed stigma, accessibility and communication as the main challenges that people with disabilities have to face in their daily lives.
“For example, a wheelchair user wants to get on the bus, but in Fiji you can’t do that. I’ve been to Australia. When I went to Sydney and got on the bus there, I thought, can I live here?”
“But it can be done and everyone needs to come together and make decisions together, including the state, service providers and, most importantly, people with disabilities,” he said.
Reaching out to people with disabilities in rural areas and providing them with the services they need is also a major focus that Nafi is passionate about and actively advocates for.
For Nafi, the biggest flaw of a person is a negative mentality.
“All we need to do is recognise the potential in ourselves and in those around us, and if you can do that, then you can do anything,” he said.
“Remember, no matter what you’re going through in life, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
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