Rita, in her seventies, has found a new purpose in life through handmade cards for charity and personal healing.
Once, Rita was a French teacher, standing at the front of a classroom, sharing her love for languages. Teaching wasn’t just a job—it was a passion she devoted most of her life to.
But life took an unexpected turn in her fifties. That year, she was diagnosed with cancer, and her career was abruptly interrupted. Though her body slowly regained strength, the world had changed: when she sought to return to teaching, she was told her age made it impossible. Retirement came earlier than she expected.
Not long into this new chapter, fate tested her again. Her left eye gradually lost its sight, until it was nearly blind. Everyday tasks—walking, reading, even moving around her home—challenged her. “Things you take for granted,” she told me, “like simply seeing, carry a weight you only understand when they are gone.”
Yet, even in the shadows, light returned. After a period of treatment, her vision was miraculously restored. She said that the experience transformed her perspective. Ordinary things now held extraordinary meaning. It was then that she discovered a new purpose in life:
She started creating handmade cards and donates all proceeds to organizations that support the visually impaired.
She draws lines, cuts paper, glues, and laminates every card entirely by hand. Each piece demands patience, time, and care—a remarkable feat, especially at her age.
Her daughter lives in Canada, and each year Rita spends a month in Montreal. Her cards travel with her, touching new places and people along the way.
Through these quiet, patient creations, Rita has found a way to turn the fragility of life into something tangible and beautiful. She celebrates what truly matters for her: love, friendship, and the simple joys that make life rich.
