In a world where careers often follow straight lines, Lea M. Jabre Fayad’s journey has been anything but conventional. What began with a love for reading and writing evolved into a lifelong mission to use words as a tool for awareness, healing, and empowerment.
Lea first discovered her passion for storytelling during her academic years, which eventually led her to intern at a publication house between her BA and MSc at University College London. It was there that she took her first leap, getting her articles published and realizing that her voice carried value. Yet, despite this early success, believing in her potential as a writer remained one of her greatest initial hurdles.
But life had more complex plans for her.
While climbing the professional ladder, working as a Director of an NGO for individuals with special needs, Lea received a life-altering diagnosis: Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological condition that forced her to resign in December 2023. What might have been the end of a career turned out to be a powerful rebirth. “I was shattered,” she says. “But I didn’t know then that this would become my turning point.”
Faced with adversity, Lea did what she always knew best, she turned to storytelling. Using her Instagram presence and YouTube platform, she launched “Heart to Heart”, a series of deeply honest conversations with fellow SPS patient and friend Ilea. Their content, created from lived experiences, began resonating globally with patients, caregivers, and those seeking inspiration through vulnerability.
Her efforts did not stop there. As her impact grew online, she returned to professional life with renewed purpose, taking on the role of Fundraising & Communications Manager at Reddo Care, a UK-based nonprofit working to break the cycle of child neglect and abuse. From behind a screen, she now drives powerful narratives for vulnerable children across London boroughs, demonstrating that location or physical health need not be a barrier to change.
In Lebanon, she co-founded “Boukra Nour” (Tomorrow’s Light), an NGO built in partnership with Reddo Care, focused on youth empowerment and community inclusiveness. It’s a name that reflects her vision: that even in the darkest moments, tomorrow can shine brighter.
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Her written contributions have spanned from current affairs and political analysis to rare disease publications, further solidifying her place as a writer with depth and reach. And most recently, she proudly edited her first book, a milestone that combines her early dreams with her new reality.
Lea’s story is a powerful reminder that when life forces us to pause, it may just be preparing us to speak more loudly and with more clarity than ever before. She now measures success not by titles or paychecks, but by presence, impact, and the stories she leaves behind.
“Success means living in the present, a day at a time,” she shares, a philosophy rooted in her journey of self-rediscovery.
With more books to write and lives to touch, Lea Fayad isn’t just a writer or an activist, she is a living testament to the power of words when wielded with purpose.
Also published on Medium.
