Lobna Rouhani, a 37-year-old writer of Jordanian/Iranian descent, has faced critical health issues in the last year. In profound ways, these experiences have reshaped her views on life and motherhood. Rouhani is an Albert Park Rotary Fellowship for the Wheeler Centre and Centre for Stories. Their journey is a testament to resilience and a reminder that taking time to enjoy the little things in life can go a long way.
Regardless of her physical well-being, Rouhani has struggled with mental health since she was 16 years old. Her experience changed dramatically when… One evening she came home to find her husband home in bed with a nasty cold. After a tiring day of raising her almost-two-year-old daughter, Rouhani was exhausted. Inexplicably, she had been struck by a panic attack and thought she was having a heart attack.
In that moment of despair, she dialled triple zero seeking emergency assistance. However, the episode became a pivotal moment in her life. I soon realized that she could only manage one major event per day. This epiphany inspired an amazing change in her perspective.
From that day forward, I began to appreciate the little things in life more, Rouhani shared. “Listening to my daughter’s clunky footsteps or enjoying baths together became incredibly meaningful.”
Rouhani resides on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. Her bond with her family and culture is central to her sense of self, and her autonomy depends on that. After the panic attack, she went to the hospital and got an MRI done. A few days later, her doctor delivered news that would alter her life:
Lobna, you’ve had two minor strokes,” the doctor told her.
This diagnosis initially devastated Rouhani, but it encouraged her to reflect on her day-to-day habits and what she truly valued in life. Armed with an understanding of her boundaries—and how to better protect them—she started prioritizing the connections that really count. And, she said, her daughter—who is now almost 2—quickly became the focus of her life.
As she navigated this new reality, Rouhani discovered joy in simple moments—sharing meals with her daughter and embracing the rare quiet times they spent together. Yet these activities served to bring them together. They also provided her the emotional support she craved at a low point in her life.
Rouhani’s experience has been instrumental in helping her reflect on her own mental health journey. She is the first to admit that balance in her life is a constant struggle and she regularly preaches about the importance of self-care. She is now pregnant with her second child, nearly a year after her strokes. Through it all, she remains committed to taking care of her children and providing for them and working to achieve her dreams as an author.
Mayra del Carmen’s story is an inspiration for other people who may be going through the same hardships. By publishing her experiences, Rouhani hopes to inspire people to seek help and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. She encourages everyone to make physical and emotional health a priority.
