Turkish couple inspires with story of love and determination

At just six months old, Selcen Kankul from Türkiye was hospitalized after a seizure and diagnosed with cerebral palsy. After receiving treatments at various healthcare centers in different cities, she gradually regained the ability to speak, and then to move her left arm and leg again.

Thanks to physiotherapy, Kankul was able to hold on to life with the support of her family, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Inspired by her treatment experiences, Kankul dreamed of becoming a physiotherapist. She overcame the challenges of cerebral palsy through her determination and graduated from İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation.

Love story begins at the hospital where she volunteered

When Kankul faced difficulties finding a job due to prejudices, she started working as a volunteer at Mersin University Faculty of Medicine.

During this time, she dedicated herself to the treatment of children with physical disabilities. Her path crossed with Tufan Kurban, 28, who was undergoing physical therapy at the hospital following a motorcycle accident.

After getting to know each other well, the couple decided to marry and tied the knot three years ago.

Now, Selcen Kankul works as a pediatric physiotherapist at an institution under the Ministry of Family and Social Services, while her husband Tufan Kurban works as a technician at a solar energy company. They share content on social media to raise awareness about the lives of people with disabilities.

Their posts have attracted attention, and their life story and love for each other bring smiles to many faces.

"We have feelings too, we can love too"

Kankul told an AA reporter that the difficulties she faced entering her profession after university were turning points in her life.

She said she met her husband during this period:

"After finishing university, I couldn’t find a job because of prejudices. I wanted to practice my profession so much that I started volunteering at Mersin University. That’s when my husband came to the university for treatment after a motorcycle accident. That’s how we met."

Kankul noted that she never felt different in her husband’s presence and said:

"There was never an issue between us regarding my disability. Unfortunately, society has such a problem — people think, ‘A person with a disability cannot have a spouse.’ Why? Is there such a law? According to whom, by what standard? They always say it, and they will continue to say it. We have feelings too, we can love, we can fall in love. Before people knew me on social media, there were more negative comments and prejudices. Once I became a bit more known, attitudes and perspectives toward people with disabilities and toward me started to change."

"My husband never saw me as different"

Emphasizing her husband’s unique place in her life, Kankul said:
"One of the reasons I fell in love with my husband is that he never saw me as different. Until now, people had always seen me as different, but for the first time in my life, someone didn’t. That’s when I realized he was the right person because I don’t want to be seen as different. He made me feel that. We all live in the same world; if we are breathing, one should not be considered different from the other. If we are exposed to these prejudices, society needs to learn to live with people with disabilities. Our only wish is that people understand us as humans. We all have feelings and emotions. Whether disabled or not, anyone can fall in love when they meet someone. Anyone can feel sad when someone does something bad to them. So love is love. Everyone has the right to fall in love."

"Those who look kindly, see kindly"

Tufan Kurban also shared that he met his "love of his life" at the hospital while she was volunteering as a physiotherapist during his treatment after a traffic accident.

After the physical therapy process, they decided to marry. Kurban said:
"I never even considered my wife’s disability during the process of getting to know her. It was not important to me. My family also didn’t impose any pressure or prejudices. They supported us."

Kurban said they received support both from their close circle and from social media followers:

"People shouldn’t approach others with prejudice. They should get to know and understand them first. I approached my wife without prejudice after getting to know her. In life, those who look kindly, see kindly. I always treat my wife very well. We are very happy; love definitely knows no barriers. There shouldn’t be any barriers anyway. Barriers exist only in people’s minds. Many people think a disabled person would have a disabled spouse because of the prejudices they face, but that’s not the case. When you look without prejudice, you can see that it isn’t true."