The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.110)

TZU CHI 110 19 she clears away the last of the leaves, other volunteers would begin to trickle in as well. “Good morning, Brother! Amitabha !” Ngoi Lee hollered by way of greeting as soon as volunteer Koo Tuck Choy arrived. The latter, in turn, settled himself on a stool across Ngoi Lee, listening with rapt attention to his anecdotes and insights on life. An eager smile spread across Ngoi Lee’s face as he animatedly regaled Tuck Choy with his tales. When the time came for Tuck Choy and other volunteers to sort the ever-growing load of recyclables, the wheelchair-bound Ngoi Lee could not do much except help to string together plastic bottles into bunches. This task appeared simple, yet it brought him much joy, for it reflected his genuine intentions to give back to society, and gave him the opportunity to do his part for the environment, no matter how insignificant. In the intervals between receiving batches of plastic bottles from the volunteers to be bundled together, Ngoi Lee would gaze upwards to admire the clear blue skies above dotted with clusters of fluffy white clouds, while taking in the fresh air around him. He would then shift his gaze to observe the passing cars and pedestrians on the road. He finds serene moments like these calming, setting his mind at ease. Ngoi Lee is a kidney patient due for dialysis treatment three times a week. On other days, he has to attend regular follow- up consultations at the hospital. His life mostly revolves around hospital wards permeated by the astringent scent of medicine and disinfectants. Recycling Days offer a welcome respite from his daily routine, allowing him to bask in the sights and sounds of his surroundings and enjoy serene views of the blue sky. Ngoi Lee could vividly recall the time when volunteers introduced him to the Tzu Chi Bandar Sri Damansara (1) Recycling Point more than a decade ago. He has been dedicating himself to recycling work ever since. The road to independence Instead of feeling resentful and bitter over a turbulent life, Ngoi Lee has resigned himself to the workings of fate and accepted his predicament. He would never forget that fateful day in January 1991. He was driving back to his hometown in Sungai Siput, Perak, with several of his relatives and friends when tragedy struck. They were involved in a road accident that claimed the lives of all three passengers; Ngoi Lee was the sole survivor. In June that same year, he met with another accident while riding pillion on his friend’s motorcycle. His friend died on impact, while an injury to his spine caused permanent damage to his spinal cord and left him paralysed from the waist down. He was only 21 then. “I narrowly escaped death twice, but the accidents robbed me of my ability to live independently. I even had to depend on my mother’s assistance to relieve myself. I refused visitors as I was ashamed of my disability. I didn’t want them to see me in such a pathetic state,” he admitted. Those days of despair continue to haunt him. He was convinced that being wheelchair- bound had rendered him an invalid, and remained cooped up at home for five years until the day his older brother, a dispatch rider who works in Kuala Lumpur, took him on a tour Touching Lives with Unconditional Love