Pari’s Story – Part 2

Two years ago, Parivash “Pari” Amirshahi could not have imagined how much better her life could be. But thanks to your generosity, Iona opened her eyes —literally.

When Iona social worker Liza Chapkosvky first met Ms. Pari Amirshahi, she was isolated in her apartment, surviving on little food and company. She had no bed, no way to prepare food, and poor eyesight that made daily operations challenging.

Thankfully, because of our supporters, Iona was able to be her safety net. Pari now receives nutritious meal deliveries and other public benefits.

She has attended Iona’s Active Wellness Program at St. Alban’s, where she is able to enjoy a free, hot lunch and fun conversation among friends and neighbors. There’s now a microwave and hot plate in her apartment to prepare meals. And she even has a new bedframe and mattress, which generous donations helped to secure.

Because of the Iona community, Pari has rediscovered an old pastime—painting.

In her own words, Pari has been painting since she was “really, very young.” All that changed, however, when her poor eyesight made keeping up with her passion difficult. With Iona’s help, however, Pari received cataract surgery to improve her eyesight.

Within weeks, she was holding a paintbrush in her hand.

“I never thought I would paint again,” says Pari, with a smile. “Now, I feel so good! It is possible.” Since her surgery, Pari has been hard at work, joyously creating portraits, still lives, and more. Just recently, a neighbor even asked if she could paint something for her apartment! “It made me feel so good that somebody wanted to decorate with my painting,” says Pari.