Ayala Ohana, 12, was chosen by Kia Israel to take part in the opening ceremony of a World Cup match and on Tuesday evening walked out onto the pitch before France faced Senegal. She was described as the only Israeli representative at the tournament.
Behind the public moment is a painful personal story. Ohana lives with a rare disease and, a year ago, nearly died after contracting a flesh-eating bacterium. She also endured severe bullying at school, including humiliation, deliberate trips that made her fall, and hospitalization after another student threw a bottle at her in class.
During her treatment she had a medical aide beside her and struggled with blood clots and a complex medical condition. She hid much of what she was going through from her parents because she felt ashamed.
Ohana later began sharing her story on social media, and that changed her life. Her confidence returned, people connected with her, and the girl who had once been mocked became an inspiring figure that children now want to photograph with in the street. By stepping onto the field at the World Cup opening ceremony, she said in effect closed a powerful personal circle, from feeling invisible and different to becoming impossible to ignore.
