The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.110)

2019 • 05 20 eature of the capital city. They made acquaintance with a disabled patron on an electric-powered wheelchair while having breakfast at a food stall, who sympathized with Ngoi Lee’s plight. He encouraged Ngoi Lee to take up lessons on various practical skills at the Beautiful Gate Rehabilitation Centre. Ngoi Lee was envious of the familiarity and ease with which his new acquaintance navigated his wheelchair through crowds, in contrast to his continued reliance on his mother and younger brother ever since he became paralysed. It pained him to realize that he could no longer burden his mother, who had been exhausting herself from tapping rubber trees to feed the family and caring for him around the clock. He decided to enrol himself in the Beautiful Gate Rehabilitation Centre in Kepong to equip himself with vocational skills that would enable him to be self-sufficient. After moving into the Rehabilitation Centre, Ngoi Lee learnt to make full use of his able hands to overcome his disability by acquiring various living skills, including cooking skills and managing his own laundry. He even gathered the courage to venture outside to shop for groceries at the wet market and picked up some handicraft skills. When he was sufficiently self-reliant, the Centre assisted him with applying for a 3-wheeled motorcycle. He was eventually able to travel to the hospital for follow-up appointments on his motorcycle, besides making his rounds to peddle his handcrafted wares. Two years later, he left the Centre and co-rented a house with his friend, embarking on an independent life selling his handicraft creations. “Many take pity on the disabled and show us sympathy when in fact, they fail to realize that we are no different from the able- bodied. We are equally capable of leading a normal life and making a living with our own labour, not to mention going on a motorcycle road trip to take in different sights. We deserve a happy, fulfilling life too,” reflected Ngoi Lee. Ngoi Lee anticipated his life to be smooth sailing ahead, but was dealt another blow when he underwent three surgeries in a bid to relieve his kidney complications, but to no avail. He was then subjected to dialysis Chong Ngoi Lee was in the prime of his youth when a road accident left him paralysed. [Photograph courtesy of Chong Ngoi Lee]