The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.110)

TZU CHI 110 09 Teik Hong’s mother insisted on overcoming her fear of spending the night at the hospital so that she could look after her son, and even sought guidance from hospital staff on massage techniques to ease his discomfort. Teik Hong’s parents nursed him meticulously – propping him up, bathing him, dressing him; they even kept close watch over him throughout the night, responding instantly to the slightest sound he made. Whenever Teik Hong sensed that his mother was in a pensive mood, he knew that she felt sorry for him for being unable to live a normal life like his siblings. During times like these, he would crack jokes and break into song to cheer her up. Teik Hong’s parents will be turning 83 this year and have weakened considerably with age. His mother is now deaf in the left ear, and is hard of hearing in the right ear. She is only able to detect faint traces of sound, assisted by a hearing aid. She also walks with an unsteady gait and a drooping head. “The doctor instructed me to take my medication for high blood pressure daily. I obey his instructions because I cannot fall ill,” said Teik Hong’s mother, with packets of medication in hand. Her resolve to protect her son was evident in her attentive care towards him. She would periodically check on him to see if he needed anything, and stroke the top of his head lovingly at times. She is worried that her poor sense of hearing would cause her to miss out on Teik Hong’s calls for assistance, hence her frequent displays of concern. In response to his mother’s anxious gestures, Teik Hong would console her by gently asking her to first take a breather. She lacks the strength to prop Teik Hong up from the bed by herself, hence Teik Hong requires the joint effort of both his parents for support. Teik Hong, ever thoughtful, would reassure his parents each time by saying, “There is no need to hurry. Take your time!” Teik Hong regrets that his parents still have to care for him in their twilight years. Yet, he acknowledged that his family is his most reliable pillar of strength, for their love and support have become his source of motivation to go on living. Their relationship is closely inter-dependent, hence there was never a time when his parents gave up caring for him. All he could do to express his gratitude for his parents’ persistent concern is to regard them with utmost kindness and tenderness in their daily interactions. Seeing the world through technology Teik Hong could clearly recall his initial encounter with Tzu Chi in 2003. At that time, he had been prescribed various types of medications, hence he was concerned that his prohibitive medical expenses would impose an additional financial burden on his older brother, who has to raise his own family as well. He eventually decided to try his luck at seeking help from Tzu Chi KL & Selangor (then Tzu Chi KL) by contacting the organization’s number he found on a newspaper page. He never expected Tzu Chi to not only supply him with high-nutrition milk powder, but also introduce volunteers into his life to provide relief from his pain and suffering. Teik Hong also shared that TIMA members, including general practitioners, dentists and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, would visit him regularly to administer medical care. He has also received visits from volunteers who would keep him company and Touching Lives with Unconditional Love