The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.109)

2019 • 04 14 eature the imposing, jaded air of one who has seen the ways of the world, had a frayed relationship with his family. After the accident, his family would offer him assistance, but beyond that, they largely ignored him and left him alone in his room. He recalled with a wistful smile, “I was stuck in my room with no one to talk to. Looking out the window, I felt like I was in prison.” Back then, Kim Peow lamented that life was unfair to him. Having depleted all his savings, he could not afford adult diapers for himself. He resorted to reusing soiled diapers after drying them under the sun, but this resulted in festering sores developing on his skin. The cost of dialysis treatment was too heavy a burden on him, hence his decision to reduce the frequency of treatment sessions. “Instead of burdening my family with my existence, I would rather disappear from the surface of the Earth…” said Kim Peow. He was on the verge of giving up on himself, but a friend sympathized with his despair and sought help from Tzu Chi. An emerging ray of hope In late 2017, a group of volunteers paid Kim Peow a visit for the first time. Volunteer Chin Fui Cheaw recalled, “When we first set foot in Kim Peow’s house, we were appalled by the lack of hygiene. Kim Peow was thin and frail, with a constant frown on his face. His speech was slurred. He skipped his dialysis treatment, causing black spots to appear on his legs and back as toxins accumulated in his body. He was in bad shape.” After due evaluation, Tzu Chi adopted Kim Peow as a care recipient and started subsidizing his dialysis expenses. The volunteers advised him to undergo regular dialysis sessions. After several months of care and support, the black spots on Kim Peow’s body started to fade. He warmed up to the volunteers and smiles reappeared on his face. Heenthused,“Ilookforwardtothevolunteers’ visits because the house is normally very quiet as I have no one to talk to. The volunteers’ concern warms my heart.” The volunteers persisted in their visits, although they were met with cold reception from KimPeow’s family, to the extent that the family left the house key on the shoe rack outside the house for the volunteers to let themselves in. Nevertheless, the volunteers were unfazed and stayed true to their altruistic spirit. They were further motivated by Kim Peow’s encouraging progress. Ever since he was confined to his wheelchair, Kim Peow had to rely on his son’s assistance to move him from his wheelchair onto his bed, and vice versa. When the volunteers learnt that a bed that is elevated higher above the ground would allow him to support himself independently, they sourced for a nursing bed to replace his old bed. Fui Cheaw, together with fellow volunteers, Loke Suit Kong andAu Yoke Lan, cleaned up the room, while the other volunteers, including Leong Tuck Leong, Tang Kin Heng and Tang PokYew, were in charge of assembling the new bed. Kim Peow heeded the volunteers’ advice to flex his limbs more often in order to restore their dexterity. He promised Fui Cheaw, “I want to open the door for you personally when you come to visit next month.” “Are you sure it is not too much for you? Don’t force yourself!” “I am sure of it!” At the following visit, Fui Cheawwas moved to see KimPeow attempting to steer his wheelchair forward, despite his weak calves, with the key in hand, ready to unlock the door. “He once told us of his intention to prepare a vegetarian dish for us after he recovers. When I saw him unlocking the door by himself, I knew it won’t be long before we