In an instant, the life of Kaken Egimbaeva, a resident of Naryn, changed dramatically due to a car accident on the Kubaky pass that occurred in 2016. As a result of this tragic incident, she found herself confined to a wheelchair, suffering from the loss of mobility in her legs and weakened back. Almost ten years have passed since then, and she continues to learn to accept her new reality.
The difficult path to acceptance was filled with pain and despair. However, despite the challenges, Kaken found the strength within herself to continue living, maintaining gratitude and faith in a better future, relying on what remained strong – her hands and spirit.
After the injury, she underwent complex spinal surgery.
“I feel nothing and cannot move. Bones were replaced with metal. Sometimes I feel like a terminator,” she says with a hint of humor.
But behind this humor lies immense resilience.
“After the accident, I realized who my true friends are,” she shares.
Kaken is a journalist by profession. She began her career in print media, then worked at the post office and in a cafeteria. After the accident, she had to stay home for a long time, but even in a confined space, she did not lose herself.In 2022, gathering all her strength, she founded the organization "Ray of Hope" for people with disabilities. “About thirty people attended the first meeting. I went through this and knew how to help and support,” she says. Thus, her personal pain transformed into help for others.
To keep up with life, four years ago she decided to engage in sports and joined the Paralympic movement. In 2023, Kaken won the championship title in arm wrestling in her category and participated in an international tournament in Kazakhstan. Her awards include two gold and one silver medal.
“In arm wrestling, serious injuries occur; I have seen how arms are broken. But true professionals can feel your strength just by taking your hand. It was important for me to test myself and go beyond Kyrgyzstan, but I lacked the funds,” she shares.
Kaken lives alone in a rented apartment, enjoys reading, writes poetry, and has already published several books. She receives 12,000 soms for her first-group disability.Despite all the difficulties, her spirit remains unbroken. Her story contains not only pain but also strength, loss, and rebirth.
Life goes on, and every day Kaken Egimbaeva finds new meanings in it to move forward.
