The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.110)

TZU CHI 110 07 Hong with fellow volunteers, and was eagerly greeted by Teik Hong and his mother. Sixteen years had passed since my last visit, yet nothing much had changed, except that Teik Hong’s parents had visibly aged, and Teik Hong himself had gained weight. “The milk powder that Tzu Chi has been supplying me for the past 16 years definitely contributed to my weight gain,” said Teik Hong with a chuckle. Teik Hong was not as frail as before, but his condition showed little improvement. Currently, 90 percent of his joints have stiffened, and dark patches would appear on his legs after standing for even brief periods of time – a symptom of varicose veins, according to his doctor. He risks having his legs amputated if his symptoms are not adequately monitored and duly treated. Teik Hong remained composed and articulate as he opened up about his illness, as he did when sharing his ordeal 16 years ago. His face was devoid of even the faintest trace of sorrow or anxiety, radiating humour and optimism through his amusing anecdotes. Living with a rare condition Teik Hong was born in Penang in 1972, and grew up in a modest family with his older brother and sister. He started taking up part-time jobs in his primary school years, including working at a sundry shop after school to earn his own pocket money. He studied hard, harbouring ambitions of securing a stable job with a lucrative income to provide a comfortable life for his parents. When he turned 15, his legs were gripped by a sudden onset of pain. Baffled, he initially attributed the pain to a sprain injury he sustained in a school race. He consulted one doctor after another and was even hospitalized for a week, but to no relief. The pain eased after seeking treatment from a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, but relapsed two years later. This time around, traditional Chinese therapy was no longer effective. Half a year later, the pain spread to the joints all over his body, eventually restricting the mobility of his neck and arms. Closer examination revealed that he suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, a condition in which inflammation of the spinal joints causes the vertebrae to fuse together, resulting in a rigid spine. The attending doctor was taken aback by the diagnosis, as the acute severity of Teik Hong’s condition is usually only seen in elderly sufferers above the age of 50. “The doctor informed me that all my joints would progressively stiffen, and that my condition could be life-threatening if it were to cause complications tomy heart,” TeikHong recounted. Nevertheless, he was not overwhelmed by fear, nor did he lament his misfortune. On the contrary, he maintained a positive outlook and held on to the hope that he would eventually be healed by a doctor who could treat his condition. Alas, his condition took a turn for the worse when he completely lost his ability to walk at the age of 20. This led to his parents’ decision to relocate to Kuala Lumpur, hoping to find doctors who are better qualified to deal with his condition. His older brother, who was then working in the capital city, shared his parents’ burden of caring for Teik Hong and fetching him for treatments at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Since then, Teik Hong’s life has revolved around therapies, surgeries and medications. For two years, he had been taking half a dozen painkillers daily to alleviate the constant bouts of pain coursing through his body, stopping only when he experienced symptoms of Touching Lives with Unconditional Love