Oriana's Story
This video was produced as part of CoMO's World Meningitis Day campaign in 2019, focusing on life after meningitis. To watch another video of someone's experiences after meningitis, click here.
Oriana contracted bacterial meningitis when she was 27 years old, permanently damaging her optic nerves and leaving her partially sighted. However, she never stopped drawing. It supported her emotionally and allowed her to display her new situation and perspective on life #AfterMeningitis.
“My artwork takes away all those emotions that I don’t want to carry with me. It makes me a spectator of my situation”
Oriana works under the artistic name of Doriana Gray and her artwork opens a window into her world and how she sees, which she describes as a peculiar form of blindness where everything seems like it is filled with twinkling lights.
Since her experience, Oriana has worked closely with her local meningitis organisation, the Asociación Española contra la Meningitis.


Meningitis

Self Portrait

Lumbar Puncture
Update
Oriana created the incredible painting, entitled "Aftermath" below (left) to commemorate the historic launch of the Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 and how meningitis affected her.
She also provided two short videos of her process and images of how her painting developed. You can view more of her beautiful artwork on Facebook, Instagram, Wordpress, and an Online shop.

To read another personal meningitis story click here.
Do you or someone you care about require support after experiencing meningitis? Get in touch or connect with a member in your country.