Online business

I saw so many sellers' selling their products on 11street online. After seeing it, I tried my luck on being a seller too as I need more income. I thought on what to sell and there was a column sell "used" items. Janice had a great idea for me to sell "Preloved items", all in good and new condition.

End of 2015, I started register as a seller in 11street marketplace. It took 2 months for them to approved me as a seller. I was happy when they approved me. Janice spent her time helping me by giving me some of her children and her good clothes to me. She helped to take photos of the clothes, but it didn't turned out well. Weeks later, Janice bought me a mannequin. I asked a relative of mine if she or her friends' had preloved good clothes. Praise the Lord! within weeks she brought 2 big packets' of nice and lovely clothes. From there, I started my online business, beginning of 2016!

It wasn't easy at first, as I don't know how to set up my "shop". I kept emailing asking 11street staff for help and advice. They were great help to me. I had to take picture of clothes, and my mum was a great help to me as she helped to me by measuring the clothes. Janice helped me too by taking pictures for me, as some pants, shorts or skirts had to taken on the floor.

From January to March 2016, I had 1-2 buyers. I felt slightly disappointed and discouraged, but I didn't give up. I kept praying to God to send buyers to my shop. God was good!! HE slowly sent more buyers to my shop to buy my items . I saw the movement of my sales as months passed. Some buyers who bought my item, came back again to buy more items. Some bought more than 1 item, as I stated on my listing can purchase "bundle postage" The more you buy, you save postage.

During that time, one of my cousin was moving house. Janice asked her anything she doesn't want, can give them to me. She said she has a lot she doesn't want. Wow!!! I was so happy. She took photos and show us the boxes of clothes and other things she doesn't want anymore. We were so, so happy!!!

That was the best time she gave us so many boxes of her used clothes, but all in good condition. They were all branded and nice looking too.

How did I sent my items to my buyers?  At the start, Janice posted the items for by going to the post office. Since she was busy with work and also helped me to post my items. I try to find online if there's a way to send parcel. With GOD's help, I found a online company called "Easy Parcel" where they make it easy for buyers and senders to send parcels.

Easy Parcel is a company in charged of courier service. To make buyer and seller easy, they are able to book few courier service to pickup the parcel from our house and send it to the buyers place. Easy and convenient!!! I was so glad I found Easy Parcel online. It make things very easy for me.

In middle of 2016, my cousin recommend me to another online marketplace called Carousell. Later I also sell in MUDAH -another marketplace too. This place a lot of people sell their preloved/new items. I started to sell my items there too. I sell my items in 2-3 marketplace.

More of our relatives and friends knew about my business, they gave good items which they didn't want anything. I even told our church friends and they gave me more items. I thank GOD for that and for sending more buyers to my shop.

I'm happy I manage to sell my items for 3 years now (till today).Though my sales went/goes up and down months after months. I thank GOD even though I was struggling with my spasm and other sickness, I was still able to kept my business going. I thank God for my mum and Janice who helped me with it. I kept learning from other sellers as months and years past. 

Since young I always wanted office/computer work. I dislike working as a seller or concerning business because I wasn't good in counting. I also wasn't good in talking to people (buyers). Some of my disabled friends was/are in business (by selling things outside in the marketplace, but it didn't interest me.

God's plan is NOT my plan. As I kept searching a job and I failed, God gave me a job - online business which I never thought before. 

I thank GOD for leading me towards the right path.

Shopping online

I was always afraid of purchasing things online. Hearing so many stories that people got cheated or their goods never arrived. Some were "fake sellers" as heard from the news/newspaper.

Middle of 2015, I signed in as a buyer in 11street.my online. During that time, there were some promotions in 11street. I tried to buy few items there. After few days my parcels' arrived safely and promptly. I studied about the company and sellers and all the feedback. A company named 11street is in charged of the sellers and buyers' can complain or ask questions to the company.

From then on, I started purchasing the things I wanted from there. The courier man will delivery our parcel to our doorsteps. There are coupons given to buyers. Month after month, more and more stores came into 11street.  As I unable to go shopping or buying my groceries outside, so I bought my things online

I was really happy that I was able do my own shopping online, buy anything I wanted.

Sometimes my mum scolded me for buying things online. She said I could ask Janice to buy for me in the supermarket. I told her and Janice I wanted to be independent by buying my own things online and easy deliver.

Until today I only buy all my things from 11street. I dare not buy on other online sites.

Sickness from 2015 -2018

In 2015 - 2018 me and Julie (my sister) suffered a lot of sickness. I feel sad when I thought about it. I tried my best to stop thinking, but I couldn't. Ok... These was/is our sickness

ME

1.  2016 - The whole year I suffered from severe spasm - whole body very, very stiff and my head became very weak and couldn't lift up. Unable to do anything, couldn't even my computer work. My muscle pulled severely until i'm unable to move my limbs completely. Needed my family members' in help to take my daily things. Very difficult in breathing. Most of the time lye in bed. Very frustrating and  had very terrible time. Couldn't go out anywhere except to hospital only.

-  Enter emergency 3 -4 times that year. The doctors' kept checking blood and everything came out         positive. We kept on searching GH doctor's (neuro) for help. They kept adding the dosage of medicine, yet it didn't help.

-  Enter GH neuro ward (3 days 2 nights) for more tests .. 3 terrible day in the ward. The doctors' only could increase the dosage of my medicine.

In 2017

-   Had blur vision for more than 6 months and bed bugs bites 6 red swollen boils on my body limbs

Julie also suffered a lot from many sickness one after another.

2015-2016

1.  She suffered from severe spasm.  Entered emergency many times even in middle of the night but the doctors' couldn't do anything. She was warded in the neuro ward 3-4 in 2015-2016.

After things got slightly better :   Another sickness came along

2.  She had stomach problem - where she eat anything she vomited. Her stomach couldn't consume anything. Janice (my sister) did her best took her to stomach department. Julie also entered emergency again many times. They did many test and checked her on stomach but nothing could be done. She warded in the stomach ward for 2-3 times because they couldn't detect what was wrong with her. Overall, the doctors' suspected she had gastric because they did all the test. All went well.

Every meal she took she vomit out. Months after months all of us took care of her. She got thinner and thinner, until she left with bones.My poor Julie became so skinny! I thought God was taking her away, but Miracle Do Happen. Her vomit reduce and she could eat again. Praise the Lord !!!. We kept giving her gastric medicine. She became better and stronger again.

2017

3. Few months later -  she had another sickness!

Julie complained that of hard in breathing mostly at night. We didn't know what it was. Until one night, she had very hard breathing. Here we go again to the emergency. The doctors' checked her and found out there are virus in he lungs. So they send her to ward a complete treatment. She stayed there for 3-4 days. I went there everyday to company and talk to her.. Luckily, the virus wasn't that serious. After few days of tests and check. She could go home. The doctor gave her antibiotic to continue at home. Praise God we could bring her home.

2017

4.  We thought everything was well but months later - another sickness occur!

She had blur vision like I had describe in my last story. But her blur vision was worst than mine. Months after months, her blur vision made her unable to see monthly in the evening to night. Throughout the day, she couldn't see much. She went to emergency many times too. The doctors' check and tested her, but came out positive and sent home.

The most severe times was, she couldn't see at all. It was very difficult and frustrating time for her. Because she couldn't see TV/video enjoyed. The last resort was send her emergency and enter the neuro ward together with me.We had a room to ourselves.

In that afternoon, I entered the ward first. Due to a lot of patients, the nurses place me in a individual room. Later that evening, Julie was pushed into the ward. The next morning, Janice (my sister) requested the nurses to place Julie together with me in my room. I could take care of in case of anything she in need. Luckily, the nurses granted our request. In that afternoon, they pushed Julie in my room.

The doctors' did  many tests for us include a very painful test for Julie. They wanted to do it for as well but I couldn't do it as it was "real nightmare" for me. I did  once when was a child.

The test came out negative. The doctors' couldn't anything much for us and we were discharged after a week. It was a terrible staying in the ward, even though we had a room to ourselves.What a relief to go home!

2017 -2018

5. After few months later, another sickness came along !!!

This time Julie had terrible bladder problem. She had difficulty in urinate. In November 2017, one whole day and night she was unable to urinate. She started complain of stomach pain. The whole evening and night screaming in pain. We didn't really know what to do. as she was in terrible pain, until middle of the night and her stomach blotted up. We called Janice and bring her to GH emergency.

The doctor let her wear tube bag so she can urine through it. It was not easy to wear it as every 10 days must go to GH to change the tube. It could get virus if she didn't change tube. A lot of time due to bladder virus, unable to urine due to the tube bag block. Many times she screamed in pain and had to rushed to emergency. Sometimes a month we took her to emergency 3-4 times. 

Over the months,Julie kept complained of stomach pain. Since we don't the cause of Julie's stomach pain, we kept taking her to GH to checked this and that. The general doctors' wrote a letter for Julie to go to Urology department. Within those months, my family were very busy bring her in and out the hospital for tests.

Slowly her stomach pain reduced. Julie wanted to take off the tube bag as she felt very uncomfortable. At last in middle of March 2018, they took her tube bag. She was very relief and happy. It took more than 6 months for Julie recover completely. 

2018

6.  Few months after Julie's bladder problem, another sickness occur!!!

Middle of last month, she got bed bugs bite on on left leg near her knee. It started with a small dot. She felt some slight pain. Within days, it grew bigger and bigger and became a boil.It was very red and painful We brought her to GH clinic where to doctor check her, but didn't give medicine to eat. She kept complaining and screaming of pain. She couldn't sleep throughout the night. My mum who took of her also couldn't sleep. The next morning, we took her emergency as it was weekend.

She spent half day there with our maid. Again, the doctors' tested her and it was all positive. She came  home in the evening with antibiotic and few others' medicine. She took for 5 days of antibiotic, but the boil was still swollen with pulse. Janice took Julie again to GH clinic and the doctor said there's a big bug bite her. The doctor continue give her the same antibiotic and other medicine. After she took for a week, her boil still swollen and didn't even get better.

Because Julie's was in severe pain, Janice took her to the clinic again (the 4th time). This time the doctor x-ray her and wrote a letter for her to go Orthopiedic Department. The clinic doctor says mostly they need to operate her. It's nearly a month since her boil started.

All these sickness happen within these 4 years. It has been a tough and rough time for our family. I really thank GOD a family who go through the suffering with us. Giving them the love, care and specially patient carrying for us.. THANK YOU GOD!!!

             

Bed Bugs Bites - Pt 2.

It was only the beginning of the bed bugs bites!

After a month of taking care my operated womb and it was healed. I was happy that the terrible time was over.... Oh no... God gave me other problems....

The boil started to grew on my others parts of my body limbs. It started with small red dot only my thigh, I felt some slight pain, only in few days it spread bigger and bigger and was very painful. My sister straight took me to GH clinic doctor for checkup. The doctor's who checked and said it was a boil and gave me antibiotic, few other medicines and cream to put on.

There it goes - antibiotic again!!! I had to take it if not my boil couldn't get better.

                                         An example of the starting of the boil


As months passed, one by one of the boil kept grew on my body limbs - from my thigh to the side of my knee to my backside to the side om face. I feel like it never end. I kept going to GH clinic for to see doctor and take medicine. I counted there were altogether 6 boils grew on my body limbs.

                               
                                        An example of the severe boil I got


Between that time, I still had blur vision. It was quite a terrible time for me, couldn't compare with 2016 when I suffered more.

I thank GOD for helping me through the difficult times. HE was the ONE who helped to carry on with life..

Bed bugs bits- minor operation

In 2017, I suffered another problem again. I can say GOD keep testing me and my family, if we can overcome our problems.

It was at the end of April when I started to have bed bugs bites below on lower part of my right stomach. I started having  some  pain. I didn't know what was, until I asked my sister checked it. It was a small boil. I thought it was only a slight thing, but day by day it grew bigger and bigger and it became very painful. 

When I went to see the common doctor in Penang GH, he wrote a note and send me to another specialist department where they check my boil. It's a operation department. When the counter nurse saw the note, she immediately asked me to the doctors' room. My mum accompany me there. When the doctors' need to check my boil, 2-3 doctors' carried me onto a small bed. They checked my boil and discussed about it. Then one of the doctors' told me I had to be warded. I was so shocked as I needed to enter to ward again! What to do as the boil was big and very painful. I knew then, they had to operate my boil. So mum and I waited outside the corridor as he wrote a letter for my admission.

A nurse from the doctors' room gave me the letter. It was lunch time then, mum and I had a light lunch and we rested a while.After resting, we headed to the stomach ward. 

I was so scared on what they will do to me. At that time, I still had my blur vision and had spasm too due to being too fearful.

We went to the stomach ward and gave the nurse in charged the letter. Then the nurse prepared a bed for me and asked me to wait for the doctors' to check me.

While waiting for doctors', the nurses chanced my clothes into hospital dress and check this and that.

When I was lying on the bed, I kept thinking what will they do to me? At last few doctors' came and check my boil to see I needed a major or minor operation. At last they said a local operation which a minor that could be done on my bed, in the ward.

It very hard to share about the operation because it was like a "nightmare" to me, though it was only a minor operation.

After the operation, that was then in the evening when I was able to go home. The doctor gave me antibiotic (I was afraid to take, as it could make me weak) I went home with a very stiff body as I had spasm due to the painful during the operation.

At last I went home, after a horrible and tiring day!!! 

That week, I was asked to go the hospital clinic for washing of my womb. 

At home my family had to wash and clean the womb for me for at least a month

Blur vision

In 2017, God allowed another suffering to attacked me.

That was in middle of March, around 12pm my vision became blur and shakey. I couldn't see anything for few hours until after my rest my vision came back again.

I thought it lasted only a day. Yet the next day was the same around same time 12pm. my vision became blur and couldn't see anything again. It went on and on for weeks and months. Not only my vision disturbed me, my head spin too and vomited too. I was really scared what was wrong with me 

At the same time, Julie also have the same vision problem as well. My family asked our neurologies whether it was due to out medication. But they said it was nothing concern with it. 

During that few months, my cousins and families from Australia came out to Penang for holidays. They spent time with us. I couldn't have a good time with them. My cousins organised a potluck lunch gathering. What happen was, when I see a lot of people, not only my vision was blur, shakey and the most terrible thing was my head was spinning terribly.

Luckily, our lunch gathering was at my apartment lobby hall, I could easily leave the gathering and go back to rest. My head was so spinning and dizzy. It happened also when my family went shopping few times. I couldn't enjoyed at all as I couldn't see and my head was spinning. I had to close my eyes

Me and Julie had the same vision problem the same time. She was more serious, not only vision blur, but in that few months she couldn't see at all.  She went into emergency few times, but the doctors couldn't find out what wrong. The last solution Julie and myself was admitted in neuro ward Penang GH for a week for some tests. 

This government hospital give disabled with welfare card.free treatment and admission in the ward. 

Julie and I spent an week of agony there with so many tests done on us. 

I find it very hard to share about that week in the ward. It's a "nightmare". They checked our brain (ct scan, eye tests and many more). What I could say we had an agony of the time there . In the end, all the tests came out positive, but they couldn't find out what was wrong with us. So we were discharged.

What a happy feeling to come home!!! Our vision slowly got better in time to come. I suffered vision problem around 6 months. It was really a terrible time for me

Thank God for helping us through this difficult time..

Three days of Agony

In 2016, I seek my neurologies in General Hospital Penang for help, if they could increase my medication. Even though they increased the dosage my medicine, yet my spasm was still so severe.

I  adjourned to the emergency few times in GH to check what was wrong with me. What I suffered was, every time I went, I  had blood test and it was very painful. The doctors' checked my blood and it came out good. So they sent me home.

Yet my spasm was still very severe, so the head of neurology knows my case very well. She admitted me to the ward immediately . I stayed there 3 days. It was an hell of the time I spent my days there as no one was there to helped me. My mum and sister came in the morning, lunch and dinner time to help.

In the morning, when the nurses cleaned all the patients, they bath them on the bed. As there were many patients' to bath for. As I was the last patient they bath for. Do you know how they bath me?

They threw the backet of water on me and changed my pampers. That was it!!! Wow!!! I felt like an animal, no human being.

The worst thing was, no one helped to urinate. I had to be on the pampers from evening until the next morning. I wet on the pampers many times and I asked the nurses to helped changed, but they didn't bother about me. The bed was all wet. I had to sleep the whole two nights on the wet and smelly bed. 

It wasn't me alone like that, other patients' also told me that they were all wet. But none of the nurses changed for them too. We had to wait till next morning for other nurses to "bath" us.

The doctors' gave me new medication and on the third day, they said I could be discharged. Praise and thank God I could go home!!! My agony was OVER!!!!

The doctors' didn't know that when I lied down, I had less spasm, but only when I sit up my severe spasm attacked me a lot. They increased my medication and gave me other new medication too. The new medication didn't suit me and I didn't take the new medicine after all I came home.

Anyhow, I was so happy to come home from the so called "prison" I will always remember this "agony" I had gone through

My computer - my best friend

I thank GOD for giving me the knowledge to learn computer and to access to internet. Though the years, I have learnt a lot of things online. Many times when I was stuck not knowing how to go on, I asked my good friend (disabled too) on how to managed. He taught me a lot "new things. Thank God for this friend of mine who is every willing to help me.

From then on, I kept learning and searching new things online. I didn't give up on learning by myself

Many times, when my computer was spoiled or the internet line, couldn't get through. I got very frustrated as I didn't know to do.

My computer is my "best friend". I can say that for sure.

2016 - A very tough year - Part 2

Hi I'm back!!! Welcome a new year 2018.... God give me another year of life !!!!

I wanted to continue from previous my story about my severe spasm, but I completely don't have mood to write. Thinking back of my suffering of my severe spasm, I really feel scare. That anytime it can come back and attack me again.

I truly suffered a lot from my severe spasm in 2016.  My spasm became more and more severe as months pass, until my whole body, limbs, face were so stiffed from morning till night. It started with my left face keep pulling, my head keep falling down (became weak) and my arms and legs keep pulling me and became very, very stiffed.

No one can understand how I felt during that time. I felt very angry, frustrated, sad and etc..etc... I was very miserable because I was always very active person, but I became a person who couldn't do anything at all. I couldn't even use my computer to work as couldn't type on the keyboard. My hand/fingers couldn't control the keys and my head kept falling down.

What I could do was lie down on my bed (almost the whole day) What I could described was I HAD A VERY TERRIBLE TIME. I had difficulty in breathing as there are no air going through the brain. Also very difficult in moving my limbs.

My family members who handle me had a though time too. When my body/limbs were stiffed, it was very heavy to lift/carry me. I thank GOD for my family were patient, understanding and caring for me during my difficult time.

As I lied in bed, couldn't do anything, what I did was kept praying and calling GOD for help and heal me again...

2016 was a very tough year

Hi... hi... I'm back baby...

Time really flies, it's going to be to be 1 1/2 years since I left this blog. I've forgotten I have a blog, till few days ago. Funny ya... So, I come back here again.

I missed writing my stories.. There are so many things to share. I don't know where to start.

Throughout 2016 had been a very, very tough year for me. I had very severe spasm (muscle pull) from my face till my toes.

From January till June my spasm began to start getting severe, but I could still managed myself. Praise God! I was able to go to Genting Highlands with my darling and friends. We went there 3 times within that 6 months. Though I had spasm throughout the trips, I still managed to handle myself. I enjoyed my time in Genting. 1. It was so cooling up there. 2, The feeling of excitement was within me when we were outside taking a walk. Hearing and seeing children and young people playing made me very happy inside my heart.

Everytime we went, there were lots of people with different religion. We enjoyed every moments while we there. I thank God despite I had my spasm, I enjoyed my trips.

To be continue....

A tough life, but never give up

My baby, I have abandoned you again.

I feel this year has been terrible and miserable year. I feel so lost, unhappy, confuse, frustrated depress, useless. I really do not know what to do with life.What I know is I feel my heart is so down everyday throughout this ten months. It's so hard to put a smile on my face.There is no joy in my heart.

Everyday for past ten months, I keep searching for a job. I need a job and income to help my family. I also need it to occupied my time. Yet till today, I couldn't find one. I feel so useless

Early this year, I asked a disabled friend of mine, can the press help me to find a job? He told me I could have a try in writing in. I wrote in The Star and New Straits Times paper column page. I was happy that New Straits Time published my story, but no one approached me with an job. My story (article) was like a write up for public to read.  First failure.

In March, I try an online job - data key in. I paid the company in advance. The job scope was very interesting, After they send me the work, I did the work for two months. I kept emailing them, but received no reply from them. After two month, I didn't receive any payment from them. I knew then I was cheated. That was a lesson for me. Second failure,

I think of ways on how to find a decent job, yet i failed.

In July I made the final decision, I called the The Star paper office, the staff put my call with the chief of reporter. I told him i'm disabled who in need of a job. He  took  my  contact  number . Less than two hours , a reporter name Arnord called me. I was so happy he wanted to interview me. Within half an hour Arnord l and another camera man, named Gary interviewed me. I talked to them for more than half an hour. Gary took some pictures of Julie and myself.

I was surprised and happy that my story came out the next day, with a big article on it. I was happy and excited that a lady from KL emailed Ai Na (a friend of mine). Ms. Dee Dee from KL willing to offer me a job as a"Project Coordinate" and an accommadation. A kind hearted man (Jimmy) willing to offer me monthly cash for six month. I was really happy public respond to my pleaque.

The next day, my article came out again in a small column saying few people respond to my article. My email address was published in the paper.

Few people emailed me offering me job. a few from KL and one from Penang . Others' offered me donation. They banked into my account. I was really happy that week.

I thought good things is coming my way as I got job offers. Nevertheless the job and accommadation in KL didn't suit me as I need a helper, but we have difficulty finding one. Another job opening in Batu Maung, Penang. The problem is I don't have transport and the work is too long hours.

At last, my happiest turns into sadness. What I gain turn to nothing - back to square one.

What I wish, hope and plan wasn't God's will. God has His own plan for me.

Letter to God

My dear God, I'm writing this letter to you... I do not know what to do with my life. I don't know how to be happy. Everyday I try my best to think positive and be happy, yet I feel so empty in my heart. I thank you for all things you have done for me.

Dear God, you know everything about me even before I was born.
Thank you for giving me - a complete face, 2 eyes, a nose, a ear, a mouth to talk, hair, brain to think.
Thank you for giving me 2 hands and 2 feet with 10 fingers and 10 toes and a whole body.
Thank you for giving me a good and loving family.
Thank you for giving me food to eat everyday.
Thank you for giving me a home to live in.
Thank you for giving me a bed to sleep on
Thank for for so many, many things.

Dear God, you have provided me with everything, but why I cannot find happiness in my life?
I want to do so many, many things, but because the spasm I have in my life is the caused me 
to have difficulty to continue to improve.
  
Dear God, thank you that I had improve a lot in many ways. Thank you for giving me life till the age 44. The doctors says I can only live till my teenage ages, but You are greater than the doctors. Thank you so much that I had gone through so many difficult times yet I survived because You were always there to help me through. Thank you for all the good times too.

Life for me may not be easy, but because You are with me I can pull through. Dear God, thank you very much for your love for me.

Life Goes On and On

My baby, I'm sorry for abandoning you for so long. Now I'm back here again. I can't believe I haven't been here for 1 1/2 years. I completely didn't have the mood to write. There was a lot of things troubling me. There were also other things I did which occupied my time.

10 months has passed without waiting for anyone. It's coming to year end again. What did I do for the past 10 months? Actually I have done many things and many things happened.

Since middle of last year, I have been writing many posts for our Disabled Access Penang.  My disabled friends and I wrote a lot of posts as we are fighting for the right of the disabled. We posted them in the Facebook. We send our posts to many disabled group in the facebook and we received many good responds. At that time, I felt good that I has accomplished something. But sadly we stopped writing as middle of this year because we have lost our ideas on what to write. But few of us still writing some posts.

I didn't know what to write so I stop writing till today, 25 January 2015.

My sister 25th Wedding Anniversary

Since beginning of this year I intend to share as much story as I can, but seems I fail to do it. But I will try update more stories of pictures.

Last Saturday (29/6/13) my eldest sister (Janice) celebrated he 25th Wedding Anniversary. We had church service for blessing. Then we adjourned for lunch at Mildlands Court Restaurant. We had an enjoyable  celebration.

My latest cushion cover

This is the cross-stitch I have done few years ago. I kept it, but lately I asked a taylor to sew it for me into a pair of cushion cover.

Gone by the wind

In early March, I wrote to doctor Izmi, (head of Rehabilitation Department). I asked him to help me that I can be walk and also to be independent. Few days later, I received a called from his nurse saying they will arrange a date for me to meet him. 

I prayed and waited that doctor Izmi will be free to see me.  Two weeks ago, I received a call from the Rehab nurse to come as doctor wanted to see me.  This time I saw another Malay lady doctor. She told me doctor Izmi was attending some meeting. So she took over. We talked one to one as for more than an hour as there are no other patients’.

She told me the truth and fact. Because of my sickness, I cannot walk without someone helping me. If I insist to walk, I may fall down which may hurt my back. (I had a major operation on my spine) That is why I cannot fall down. I only can walk for a short distance as an excises.  Due to my left ankle which is bent, so I also cannot walk steadily.

She also told me that due to my spasm, I cannot be completely independent. I will always need someone to help. When I heard that, my heart sank slightly, but I still try my best to do whatever things I can do.

I have to face the real fact that I cannot walk independently and I totally cannot be independent.  The things I dreamt of have been vanish. This is God's will for me and I have to accept it.

If I’m given a chance either to walk or to be independent, I would prefer to be independent. Because I can do anything I want without waiting for someone help and go anywhere I like.

Watching movies in the cinema

Since January till March I went to watch three movies in the cinema. I enjoyed watching thriller/action movies as it keep you in suspend and wanting to know what is happening next.

Sadly throughout last year, I only watched one thriller movie in the cinema. For one thing, I didn’t go out much. Sometimes, when my friends and I planned to watch movie, we couldn’t make it.   Sometimes, I yearned to go to the cinema, but no one in my family was free to bring me out. So I accepted it.

It is an enjoyment to watch movies. Even though I had to pay to buy a ticket without sitting on the chair, it was worth it. But sitting on the chair is surely nicer and comfortable. There is no one to transfer me to the chair. So I will have sit on my wheelchair.

I’m happy the last few months I get to watch few movies by myself.

New Challenge

As I'm bored of going to Gurney Plaza everytime, I decided to take a new challenge.

On Sunday, 17/3, I went to Queensbay Mall with my maid by taxi. I was happy my usual taxi man was free to fetch me on that day. He came around 11.20am, without much traffic jam we reached there within 20mins.

It has been few months since I last went there, I missed going to that mall. My maid pushed me from one end to another, everything was the same. I went to the first floor where a new clothes' shop were opened. I went in to see the clothes' but the prices was very expensive. Then we adjourned to the food court at Lower Ground Floor for lunch. I was so surprised there were so few people eating there. Mostly were Malays.

After lunch, we went to AEON supermarket to buy some household things. I felt happy when I get to chance to choose and buy the things by my own.

As it was only 2.30pm, I went for a movie. Outside the cinema were so many young/old people queing up to buy tickets.  Luckily there was an action movie at that time, if not I would not  have entered the cinema. I have always like action/thriller movies. The movie ended around 4.45pm.

I took a different challenge this time, going home by bus. There was a bus stop was in front of the mall. Many people were waiting for different buses. There were many buses stop to pick up passengers'. Because I didn't know which bus passes my main road, I asked the first bus driver who stopped. He told me the number of the bus. I saw a bus which passed my road, but the driver didn't want to stop. I saw his sour face and he drove away.

We waited for another bus which arrived half hour later. My maid asked the bus driver if he passed our road and he said yes and she pushed me up the bus. We went round the whole town before reaching my main road. I glad to know which bus number to take and the roate to my main road. 

I was glad to reach home around 6 something without my parents calling me. It was an interesting outing and a new experience for me. Thank God my parents let me go without making any noise.

Feeling better

Last Thursday, 14/11, I went to see the psychiatrist doctor in GH for the second time. I was surprised to see so many people in the department. I waited for more than 1/2 hour before my name was called into the doctor's room. The doctor read my report and asked me few questions. I told the doctors' I didn't want to take any medicine in my report. But this doctor asked me to try the medicine which she recommended to me. She says it will make me happy.

So I try the medicine, within few days I could feel the different. I felt calm - my anger, frustration and the negetive thoughts were all gone. I keep thinking if one day if I lift off the medicine, will all these bad feelings come back to me again. I hope I need not have to take this medicine for a long time.

Good things about myself

Last Monday, 11/13, I went for my first counselling session in GH.  My cousellor Ms.Ng doesn't speak   English neither Hokkien, so I have to expressed myself in Malay. We talked around 1 1/2 hours. I told her all my problems - my anger, frustration, my hurt, low self esteem and a lot more. 

I told her everything happened to me in the past. She advice me to say three positive things about myself every morning. I also told her I do not have self confidence. She asked me to list down of good things about myself.

After I came back, I made a list. Never did I realize I have 24 good things about myself. I felt happy and proud that I can do so many things.

1                     I can brush teeth

2                     I can wash my face

3                                       I can scrub my body during bathing

4                                         I can feed myself

5                                         I can talk clearly

.                                           I can wheel myself

7                                         I can wear my dress

8                                        I can tie my corset when lying down

                         I can climb from my bed to my wheelchair in the afternoon

1                   I can talk/express myself in malay

1                   I can do computer work

                      I can do beautiful cross-stitch

1                     I can read story book/novel – English /Malay

1                   I can write blog

1                  I can write better English than my friends

1                                   I can walk with walker despite it’s very difficult

                      I do not give up despite all the struggles if my life

1                  I don’t give up easily / I’m brave

1                 I dare to ride Rapid bus with my maid

2                    I’m an active person / go out/ mixing with people

2                 I can detect my depression and find doctor for help

2                 I’m a good listener /  I’m patient

2                 I can write with both hands

2                 I dare to go out with friends to outstation for holidays

Terrible feelings

Lately, I have been having these terrible feeling. Everyday I face with different moods and feelings. I feel very angry, frustrated, sad, hatred and thinking of a lot of negative things. It’s terribly hard to cope.

All these years, I never had these feeling or thinking until lately. It has become worst and worst each day. 

Something I ask myself :

1. Am I feeling too lonely – that is the bad thoughts come to me?
2. Is it one by one of my friends’ left me?
3. Why is my past keep haunting me?
4. Am I so useless that people looked down on me?
5. Why people cannot look up on me?

I try my best to fight against it, yet the negative thoughts still come to me mostly everyday especially when I’m alone.

Calm in my heart

This week I'm feeling much better. I stop thinking of my recent problem because I have settled it. Now I feel the peace in my heart. But certain times when I'm alone, I will start thinking and feel sad again. I really dislike this terrible feeling. Certain times up, certain times down. All the mix feeling is in my heart these days. 

I hope one day my feeling with be stable so that I can feel better in my heart. 

Lowers time

I have been feeling very low for the past few days. Something happened beyond my imagination. Now I completely have no mood for anything. What I know is - I get upset very fast, feeling very sad and tears keep dropping.

I don't have the mood to talk to anyone including my friends. When I'm alone in the room, I feel very sad. I keep thinking and thinking. I feel like I'm going crazy, but I try my best not to break down.

Dear God, please help me to pull through.

Depression

On Wednesday, 30 January 2013, I went for my regular neurology check-up. This time I expect to see any of the doctors' inside the room and get my medication. Instead I was called into Dr. Eow Gaik Bee room. She is the head of Neurology and she used to see me.

Dr. Eow is a very kind, understanding and soft hearted person. It's very hard to find a head of Neurology with this kind of nature.

When she saw me, she asked how was my mood. I told her I am ok. I do not know what prompted me to asked her this question. "Dr. am I suffering from depression and she immediately says "yes". She told me all the feelings that I have and it's really true  I also read in the internet of all the symptoms' of depression and I have most of it.

She had a long talk with me about my problem and refer me to the psychiatric department. This is what I feels' mostly everyday when I'm alone - anger, frustration, loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness and mostly isolate myself in my room.

I tried my best to stay active and forget about my problems, but certain time all these feelings will come onto me. It makes me feel very miserable and terrible about myself.

This is what I face these few years. I try to fight against it, yet I fail. Thank God until now, I'm still ALIVE!

Body more stable

Whenever my maid is free in the evening, we will go down to my apartment lobby. She will help me to walk with me holding the railing. Usually she hold my back for support, but now she doesn't hold me anymore. Only i hold her shoulder for support. I'm happy I can walk much easier now.

My maid is like my trainer - pushing and encouraging me everyday. I feel lighter and easier to walk now. I'm just like a baby who is learning to walk.

Walking without anyone holding

This morning I walked without my maid holding me, but she was behind to guard me. I could balance myself more now. Even though it's very difficult to walk, I will not give up.

I will try to walk further each day. Sometimes, my body condition doesn't permit me to go on, that is where I need to slow down. I cannot push my body limit, if not I will fall again.

Learning to walk

                                                           My special walker

One of dream is walking. When I see people walking I really envy them. They can go out wherever and whenever they like. I wish to be like one of them.

Recently my brother in-law made a walker for me. I was so happy because I was searching for this type of walker for some time. Several years ago, I borrowed this walker from the Spastic Centre and I could walked.

Now every morning with the help of my maid I'm learning to walk outside my apartment .Even though it was a very difficult process of walking as I have been in the wheelchair for over forty years. I must have the determination to slowly take one step by step to reach my gold.

Before I start walking, I pray to God to give me the strength to walk. With God's help's, I know I will be able to walk

A dip in my apartment swimming pool

Today 5pm in the evening, I went into my apartment swimming pool for the second time. Even though I love swimming so much, but I rarely have the chance to go inside the pool because of the difficulty of taking me down. Since today weather is good, I decided to go down the pool alone with my maid's and niece, Sherine help. My maid was around the pool to see me.

When I floated in the water with a tube around my body, I felt all bad thoughts flew away, instead I felt very happy. The water today was very cold, I went down the pool for half an hour. Though it was a short time, but I had a nice time.

Goodbye 2012

Days, weeks, months passed by without waiting for anyone. Before anyone knows it, it’s the end of 2012 again. While people are happy looking forward for the New Year celebration, my heart is sad because I will be sitting in my room in front of my computer.

Never once in my life have I able to celebrate New Year Eve outside my house with friends. I have accepted my fate to be in my home hearing and seeing the fireworks through my house window.  I treat this occasion as just any normal day.

This year passes by just as usual. Everyday I go to my Janice (my sister) house to help her with the computer work.  I learn many things from her. In the beginning, I thought the work would be very boring.  But it turned out to be really interesting.

Middle of March, we have two days of Boccia competition between Penang and Perak. Even though I’m a BC4 category, but I was place under BC2 because there were no other BC4 players. After two tiring and interesting days, I won a gold medal.

Because my spasm continue to attack my body everyday and certain days it came very severe until I couldn’t do anything the whole day. In April, I decided to seek help from neurology in KL. I found his email address online, so I emailed him. I was really happy when I received his email. He is a Professor. I thought he could help me with my sickness. We correspond through few emails and he asked me to go down KL to see him. I was happy Janice was willing to take me down KL together with mum. Since Denis had meeting, he drove us to University Hospital.

My happiness was short lifted when the Professor told me, he couldn’t help me. He asked me to see my neurology in Penang. My heart sank with disappointment because I went all the way to KL to seek his help and he saw me less than 10mins. I was very sad the whole day.  I even cried in the car, thinking a Professor couldn’t help my sickness. I tried to accept the fate that none of the doctors’ could help me.

At the end April, my good friends gave me some good news, saying his boss wanted to hire me as a part time worker as a content editor for their company. This company provides jobs for disabled at home. I was really happy and excited because this is good company wanted to hire me. 

Before I start my job, my friend taught me how to handle the work. He gave trial work for few day to try for few days. In the beginning of May I start this job. Even though they called it a part time job, but to me it’s a full time job because I worked the whole day and night, 7 days a week. I couldn’t do my job as fast as they wanted but I did my best and took this job very seriously.

But my happiest lasted only 3 months when they (boss) took off my job without my knowledge.  At that moment, I really felt like an idot. People want me to work they hire me, but when they don't want me, they just dumped me. Don’t I get any respect? What I have learnt from the few pass jobs was never put too much trust on people who hire me.  Whatever come and go, take them as a lesson.

Even though, I took up this job yet I still helped Janice with her work. That 3 months really took away every negative things away from my mind. I was happy concentrating on my work instead of thinking of all the bad things.

After my job was taken away, my depression and negative thoughts came back to me again. I tried my best to fight against it.

Beginning of September, my dad contacted with a virus called “ BELL’S PALSY’. He was admitted in the hospital for two days for a complete check-up. Before that, my dad had been feeling very weak.  Now he is down with this sickness and cannot go anywhere or do anything much except rest in his room.

Thinking of my past, dad has been taking me everywhere I wanted to go. Sometime thinking of him, I miss him taking me out. I took my dad for granted that until he is sick than I missed the things he has done for me.

In December I had the most experience taking the Rapid Bus. I’m happy I took this challenge of going out on public transport together with my maid.

This is my experience for this year.  Everything I did, God was behind me,  only that I didn’t see or feel it. Everything I did, I did my very best.  I thank God for helping me through 2012.

For my other my activities, do refer to my other posts’.

Another interesting experience

On 13 December, I went for an outing with my OT staff, trainees' and patients' to Queensbay Mall by bus. I had a good experience because I have always wanted to ride a bus to Queensbay Mall.

For other OT patients', it was a learning experience on how to ride a bus, buy food stuff from Jusco, the department store. Me and a few trainees' went to other floors'

to buy few other things.

At 12pm all of us gathered at the food court for lunch. While waiting for our food, we got to know each others'. Few disabled boys who came with us was chatting and laughing on another table.

After lunch, we headed to the bus stop outside the mall and catch the bus back

to the hospital.

I really enjoyed this outing because I had a different experience.

A really happy day

I couldn't imagine years passes so fast that I'm over fourth now. I thank God that I could live until this age.

I'm so thankful to God I have a family who celebrate my birthday every year. We went to Gurney Plaza for lunch at BBQ Plaza Restaurant.  Even though the food wasn't that good but we enjoyed the company of each other. After lunch we went for window shopping.

Because I went with my maid by bus and my family drove Julie there. My family went back first because Julie needed to rest. I went back later by bus.

In the evening after dinner, Janice and family came to cut my birthday cake with me. They bought me a blueberry cheesecake. It was really nice to eat. Everyone was chit-chatting while enjoying the cake.

Though I didn't celebrate with any of my friends', some of them remembered my special day and text me messages

I'm grateful and thankful to God for my family who loves and care for me throughout my life.

Great disappointment

This year our Paralimpid Malaysia was held in Pahang from 9 - 14 December. My friends' and I from our Boccia team trained every Saturday and for the children, they trained during school days. I went for training mostly every week and there were a few teachers' came to help us picked the balls.

One afternoon in the mid of November, Joe, my coach called me and told me I have been pulled out from the competition as BC4, my catagory have only two players. They don't allow two players, but must have three.

Upon hearing the news, I was truly dishearten and was really sad as I was looking forward the tournement. I practice so hard, I even brought the balls' back home to practice at my apartment lobby. I kept praying for some miracle that they could find another BC4, but miracle didn't happen.

I had to slowly accept the fact that I would not be joining my Boccia team to Pahang. When God decide something we have to accept it even though with a heavy heart. We cannot fight against God, but accept His will.

My 1st Rapid bus ride

Sunday, 18 November, I took my 1st Rapid bus ride together with my maid. I used my power wheelchair and we walked around 10mins to the main road to catch the bus.

We went to Gurney Plaza for shopping and came back in the evening. Even thought it was only a short ride, but I learned something, going out by myself with my helper and take public transport. The bus ride only cost RM0.70 for disabled and RM1.40 for able body.

From then on, I had 4 other bus ride even until Tesco Tg. Bungah. It was really interesting and I'm happy that I have learn new things this year. I hope I will take more bus ride in future

Having activities with the stroke patient's

On November 9, 2012, I had a great morning with the Occupation Therapy's friends'. The department organized a half a day programme for the patients'. I was invited to join them (the stroke patients')

The programme started with some talk from the doctors' and the opening of the programme. We were divided into groups'and was given some daily activities to play and challenge between other groups'. Our group contain of 5 people won't
the challenge.

It was a nice morning mixing with other stroke patient's and get to know their sickness and suffering.

Mum's birthday

Yesterday we celebrated our beloved mum's birthday. This year we didn't go out anywhere to eat. My sister Janice bought food home from outside that she likes. My mum also cooked some fried mee. We had a great time together during lunch and dinner. Since yesterday was a public holiday, my brother in-law also join us for lunch.

Relatives and friends'remembered my mum birthday and wished her. My cousin came to our house with lot of food stuff for mum as a birthday gift. We bought her a birthday cake and sang birthday song.

Even though mum was busy the whole day yet she had a good birthday because all of us love and care for her.