On Oct 6, 2005, he drove up from his hometown in Malacca to meet a potential partner about his new business venture in Kuala Lumpur .
Chua recalled, “My friend had passed my proposal to his analyst. He was quite keen, just waiting for his analyst to say yes. That day when the analyst was supposed to meet up with me, he suddenly called and said he's got an emergency to attend to; and didn’t turn up. That night, I met with an acci de nt on the Fe de ral Highway . It was 6th of October. There goes my ability to walk until today…….”
This is his story.
The accident
I met with an accident on the Federal Highway on Oct 6, 2005 It happened around midnight and I was admitted to UH ( University Hospital ) where I was warded until March 2, 2006. The car skidded and hit a tree opposite the Volvo outlet. That car broke into two. I was very lucky that a civilian who lived nearby took my handphone, dialled my last-called number, and called the ambulance as well. Luckily, that number was to my godfather, Fudge Foo, who stayed nearby and it so happened that he was on his way back home. Soon the ambulance came and it was quite a hassle to carry me out from the car as that CRV was a total loss, a wreck. I was bleeding all over. I broke my neck, fractured my lower ribs, broke my right leg, crushed my left ankle and injured my bladder.
So I am paralysed from my upper chest down.
In medical terms, I am classified as a T1 complete high-paraplegia. I was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for one and a half months. I had cardiac arrest twice, once before the operation, and another time, in the ICU. When I was in ICU, I had all kinds of lung infection, yeast, bugs, etc.
My legs and my head had bedsores, due to lying down for too long, without changing positions. Then I was transferred to the ward to get further treatment and rehabilitation. I had problems with short-term memory, visual and speech problems and lost my math skills due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen from brain injury), caused by my two cardiac arrest.
I died twice - this is my third life.
I could not even press the lift button at that time, I kept missing the targeted button.
I had nightmares almost every night.
Nevertheless, I am very strong and positive.
But I will not be what I am now without my parents’ help. They slept near my bed from when I was admitted until I was discharged.
I won’t be what I am today without them.
I might've been dead.
My family, my support.
This information is from my mother as I could not remember anything from the time of the accident until two months after the accident.
I was in a very bad shape. I was on morphine all the time.
I won’t be here without my family’s support. My maternal aunts and uncles rushed to the hospital, immediately after they received the phone call about me. Fudge Foo, the person who accompanied me in the ambulance called my second aunt; my mother’s second sister, who is my favorite aunt. She was the first to reach the hospital, as she stays five minutes away from the hospital.
She said she had never cried so much in her life. She said she cried for a few days after seeing me. All my relatives were in tears and extremely worried for the whole month when I was in the ICU.
The first cardiac arrest I had which lasted for 10 minutes really gave them a great shock.
They were so worried and scared because they were afraid they might lose me again.
My parents came the next morning because they were in Melaka, followed by my first uncle (mum’s first brother). My second uncle (mum’s second brother) came, after my second aunt because he stays in Kuala Lumpur . My mum said he didn’t go to work. The next day; he just dropped by his office for awhile and came back to the hospital. He told my mum he couldn’t work at all. Even my dad, the macho man wannabe cried loudly at the stairway.
He was shy to cry in front of people. So he sneaked to the stairway and burst out.
My mum said that was the first time she saw my dad cried and cried so much in his life.
Honestly, I never knew how much everyone loves me and how important I am to this family until my mother told me about this.
Everyone cried except my mum!!! I think she is the strongest woman I have ever seen in my life. She was so calm and steady.
She said she had to be strong and healthy so that she could go through that difficult period. She drank a lot of water (like water buffaloes!). She ate a lot, too. Everyone was so surprised until the doctors in the hospital saluted her.
She said taking care of me was not an easy task. One day she showed me her legs and I saw all those blue broken veins lining her thighs. My heart felt so painful, after I saw her ‘beautiful’ legs…. She said those were due to standing too long, as she had to hold my hands to prevent me from moving.
During the initial days, I made a lot of involuntary movements. My hands moved like “Incredible Hulk’’, banging and hitting the bed and my legs would kick out, like Bruce Lee if you don’t hold it at that time. Therefore, finally my hands and my legs were tied up. I still have the scars on my arms and my hand from that incident. I totally don’t remember a single thing about that period of time.
My parents slept on the floor beside my bed for five months. I was lucky because the hospital was near my grandparent’s house, which was just 5 to 10 minutes away from the hospital in Kampung Kerinchi.
Mum would go home for dinner and bring dinner for dad. My dad would stay behind and look after me. My parents would drive out to the stalls nearby for lunch.
My granddad was the one who cooked dinner for us. He is 81 this year and he made fresh juice for us every morning. My aunt would pass the juices to us, on her way to work every morning. She would pick up my mum for dinner on her way home after work. That was their daily routine since the day I landed in the hospital until I was discharged.
My brother Victor, was preparing for his final year exams in Melaka. He came up for a few days and helped to take care of me for a while. He had to go back for his exams at that time.
He was left alone in Melaka until I was discharged. Luckily he was strong too… his results were excellent.
My dad is that kind of person that does not know how to express himself. Cry also had to hide. Well he expresses his love and care in another way. He made me a bicycle and a tilt- table. No doubt the making of the bicycle took him only three days to complete it, but the amount of work and mind cracking was not easy after all and that is how he expresses his love. He tailor made that bicycle for me according to my height and my requirements. He had to measure my hands and my legs and the distance of the wheelchair, and soon.
Now I don’t have to go to UH for physiotherapy anymore. I can cycle and stand at home. You can see the making of my bicycle and how my parents loves me here.
My mum was the one who took care of my daily activities such as bathing and toileting needs.
I am a SCI (spinal cord injury) patient. I lost my ability to pass urine and pass motion in the normal way. I have neurogenic bladder and bowel. I remembered in the early days, my mum had to squat down and dig my anus every time I need to pass motion. Now I know how to insert the suppository ( a medicine to help with bowel movement) by myself and pass motion on my own. When I was in the ward, to pass urine, also needed my parents to do for me.
I used the method called CIC (Clean Intermittent Catherization). My parents had to wake up every four hourly to perform the CIC for me. They were there for me until I was discharged.
I always ask myself, if I ever have a son who’s in my condition right now, will I love him and take care of him in the hospital sleeping on the floor for five months like my parents did??? Will I squat down and dig my son’s anus when he couldn’t pass motion like my mother did???? Will I care so much and shed so much tears if I have a nephew like me??? Their love made me realized how important I am to them and I regretted those mistakes I did in my life before my accident. Therefore I told myself I must recover. I must walk again, in a way to thank everybody that cares for me and those who had shed so much tears for me…….
Mama, papa, my bro Vic: I love you all very much And, my aunties and uncles, my grandparents, I love you all very much too…
The saying that ‘everything happens for a reason” has never
been so true than in the case of Leonard Chua, an adventurous youngster whose life crumbled when he lost the ability to walk after a highway accident. This year it will be three years since the accident happened. For Leonard, each day from then on became a learning experience. He has since penned his thoughts in a journal, hoping they help inspire others who are in a similar situation.
been so true than in the case of Leonard Chua, an adventurous youngster whose life crumbled when he lost the ability to walk after a highway accident. This year it will be three years since the accident happened. For Leonard, each day from then on became a learning experience. He has since penned his thoughts in a journal, hoping they help inspire others who are in a similar situation.
This is his story.
No pain, no gain
Nothing comes easy, so don’t be afraid to face challenges in life.
When I started my rehabilitation 2 years ago, I was extremely weak. I couldn't even carry a 1kg dumb-bell. Now I carry 15kg dumb-bells, do 4 sets of 30reps in every type exercises every morning, without MISS. No pain no gain.
Four years ago I couldn't even draw a straight line. I lost my fingers’ fine-motor function and I had to start to learn writing again like a 3-year old boy. I had to start from drawing circles and drawing straight lines before I started with ABC. I had to start again from zero'. Now I can write love letters..
No doubt my hand writing may not be as nice as before, but at least I can write a letter with 1000 words.... or more.
It took me a year to relearn my signature. I kept on practicing until I could do it. That made me a more patient man.
Disciplined
Four years ago I couldn't even speak properly because of my hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain due to brain injury). My speech was slurred and nobody could understand what I was mumbling all the time. However, last year, I was the emcee for an event organized by University Hospital which was well-covered by the media.
They all said I did a good job, but nobody knew what I had gone through and how much hard work and effort I put in to be able to do that.. The frustration I went through, when I wanted to say something but was not able to, it was miserable. I was able to do that by practicing
my speech everyday. I read aloud and spoke to myself in front of the mirror daily.
I also did and still do my physio-exercises daily, without fail.
Miracle man.
While doctors said I would see improvements within two to three years, they did not dare confirm my chances. Spinal cord injury is one of the most complicated injuries, one where no medicine can cure. It is left to the patient to muster the will power to want to heal.
In my case, a miracle of sorts happened.
Perhaps it was my determination to get well that surpassed the limitations imposed by my injuries. The extent of my injury was such that my hand function seemed impossible. And sitting on the wheelchair so soon after the accident did not seem possible either. Doctors told me of another man who suffered the same injuries I did, neck fracture, and was bedridden, not being able to eat and speak. I believe his condition should have been ten times better than mine since he did not “die”, twice. Little wonder that doctors called me the Miracle Man.
My 2nd year accident ‘anniversary’
Today is Oct 6, 2007, which marks two years since I had the accident. The excruciating pain and my ‘death’ twice, I believe God kept me alive for a reason. The extent of my injury was such that my hand mobility was not possible, since I had fractured my C6 and C7. Doctors said I was lucky to be able to move my hands. It was a miracle for me to survive the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), keeping in mind the lung infections I had. I was in the ICU for one-and-a-half months. I am now very independent, being able to move on my own and take charge of personal chores like bathing, dressing up and eating.
And each time I go back to University Malaya Medical Centre (formerly called University Hospital ) I make it a point to visit the spinal cord injury patients. I share my story with them with the hope that it motivates them. To the doctors, they have fondly decided I am their ‘Dr Lorat’, the busy body buddy. Ha! Ha!
My life’s best moment
I was at UMMC three weeks ago and visited a spinal patient, Alex. He is only 20 and has a broken neck, making him a C4 tetraplegia, which means he does not have upper limb functions and is paralysed from his neck down. His injury is more serious than mine. Alex lost his diaphragm function and was breathing through the respirator. He was admitted three months ago and has been bedridden since. All he can do is look up to the ceiling and then turn his gaze to a picture of Jesus pasted on the wall in front.
I told Alex not to give up. I taught him some qigong breathing exercises. Barely two weeks later, I heard news that Alex was able to breathe on his own and was able to sit on the wheelchair. We were all happy for him. As for Alex, this is what he said to me: “Leonard, thank you. If you did not visit me two weeks ago I would still be lying down. I will never forget you, Leonard Chua!”. That really was the best moment of my life. I was so happy. I started to love helping others and making a difference.
May 20, 2008
I am still exercising three times daily. My dad made me my own rehab bicycle, so I can cycle and watch television at the same time. I also practises qigong daily.
For the past few weeks, I have been getting a niggling pain in my lower back. Is it a phantom pain? Being a C6 SCI patient, I should not be feeling any pain below the level of my upper chest. So I am hopeful of progressing further.
Like me, you too, can improve. Just don't be afraid to face your challenges in LIFE. NEVER GIVE UP!
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