The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.110)

2019 • 05 14 eature her to venture beyond the confines of her home. However, the joyous occasion took an uneasy turn when she was met with odd glances from passersby who saw her in a wheelchair. One of them even remarked, “It is such a pity for one so young to be wheelchair-bound. She will be a lifelong burden.” That was the first of many similar occurrences throughout Yoke Sim’s childhood. Yet each time, Yoke Sim’s mother would lift her spirits up by encouraging her, “Have confidence in yourself. Others are glancing at you not because you are the odd one out in a wheelchair, but because they admire your beauty.” Challenges in school Yoke Sim had to defer her studies for a year to focus on treating her legs. Many changes had to be made to her daily routine when she was finally able to return to school after a one-year absence. One of them was that she had to be carried to and from the school bus and her classroom by her second older brother, who worked in the school canteen. He was also tasked with delivering meals to Yoke Sim during recess. Yoke Sim said, “Our family was poor then and could not afford a wheelchair. But I couldn’t balance myself well on the chairs we used in class as they did not have armrests for support. My parents resorted to buying me an office chair to be used in school.” During Physical Education and computer lessons, Yoke Sim had to stay behind in the classroom because the lesson venues were less accessible by a wheelchair. She recalled, “I was upset for some time because I could not join my peers in learning and having fun. I used to love the swings when I was small, but I had to give it up when I lost the use of my legs as I couldn’t balance myself well on a swing.” Yoke Sim’s physical limitations had hindered her from engaging in certain activities, but she has gradually come to accept her predicament over time. However, a disheartening and embarrassing episode remains deeply etched in her memory – she was teased by her classmates for having to wear diapers at school. Back then, she had no choice but to rely on diapers because it was inconvenient for her to use the toilet facilities in the school, which were less accessible for the disabled. “I would keep an extra change of diapers in my schoolbag, which was discovered by my classmates. They laughed at me for wearing diapers way past infanthood, and said diapers are only for babies,” revealed Yoke Sim. Unfazed, the quick-witted Yoke Sim calmly and curtly responded, “Who says diapers are only for babies? We will eventually have to wear them when we become incontinent in old age. It is only a matter of time.” In 2008, Lim Yoke Sim was awarded the Tzu Chi Study Grant by the CEO of Tzu Chi KL & Selangor, Echo Chien at the presentation ceremony at Kuen Cheng High School, Kuala Lumpur. [Photograph by Wong Poh Fatt]