I wrote this story last year. It was what I've experienced personally. I didn't know whether to put here in my blog. But now I'm publishing it.
It was the last day of our Kejohanan
Sirkit 2 Boccia , from 5-9 August 2019 held
in Pusat Kecemerlangan Sukan Paralimpik, Kampung Pandan. KL
After my last BC4 game finished in which I lost 2-4 to my opponent, it was around 11.30 am.
My assistant, my family and I had lunch in
the cafeteria in Pusat Kecemerlangan Sukan Paralimpik. After lunch, we met a
few friends to discuss our Boccia balls. It was interesting hearing their
discussion.
My assistant, family and I went back
to our Vortex KLCC Apartment to relax I was in my room clearing my stuff, when suddenly
my assistant came into my room. She told me,
that they would be going back to Penang for an urgent matter. They wanted to
send me back to the dorm together with my other teammates and their assistants,
who would care for me.
I quickly thought of what to do. I
didn’t want to go back to the dorm because I
didn’t want to stay another day. As the next morning, we had to go to Dewan
Boccia again for the final game and medal presentation ceremony (which I dread
to go) because the Boccia court was super/terribly hot and humid.
What came to my mind was taking a flight back to Penang. I called and told
Janice that
I wanted to go back by plane. She agreed to find the earliest flight back. At the same time, our coach also allowed us
to go back.
What I thought looked very easy and
simple, turned out that God had another plan for me. He wanted me to experience a longer journey.
Janice called me back and told me that
there were a few Malaysian Airlines flights in Subang Airport. I told my
assistant and her family I wanted to take a plane. I told my assistant maybe my
niece could help me, but Janice told me she was busy. My assistant helped me pack my bags and called
a Grab car They were unable to drop me at the airport as he was taking another route
back.
The Grab driver was a Malay driver.
We told him to help me to Subang Airport. The driver took around one hour as
there was a traffic
jam in certain parts of the city as it was after working hours
When I reached the airport, the
driver was kind enough to park his car at the parking lot and helped me with my
2 bags.
He wheeled me near to the Information
Counter and asked someone to help me.
I told an Indian female staff member
near the Information Counter that I wanted to buy a plane ticket to Penang. She
wheeled me and my 2 bags on the trolley to another side which was Malindo Air
counter.
The female staff left me with the
Malindo Air staff. The baggage was left outside the counter. I approached and
inform the staff that I wanted to buy a ticket
to Penang. Seeing my condition, in a wheelchair, they refused to help me.
In Subang Airport, Malindo Air and
Firefly cater only for able-bodied passengers, there was no accessibility
for wheelchair users to go up the airport.Passengers have to walk up a flight
of stairs to go into the plane.
I continued to ask the staff there to
help me walk up the plane. Their answer was still and that is very risky.
One of the staff told me to go to
KLIA Airport as there was a flight at 11.45 pm.
There I was, alone in Subang airport.
I tried to think of what to do. I called Janice for help. She asked me to take
a Grab and go back to and join my team. In my heart, I didn’t want to stay
another day. So I took action and I did it my way.
While I was alone in the airport, I
wasn’t afraid or panicked. I stayed very calm. At that moment was 5 something.
I had to act fast. I went to the OKU restroom which was quite a distance away.
I left my luggage at the Malindo Air counter.
I wheeled myself there and I asked
God to help with my toileting, protect me from any danger or any falls. I did
it with God’s help!! I wheeled back to
the counter and stayed near my bags.
I saw an Indian lady. She was wearing her name tag. I quickly approached
her and asked her to help me push my trolley bag
outside the arrival hall.
I wheeled beside her. She helped me
outside the arrival hall. I thanked her for helping me. God really send an
angel to help me.
I took a Grab car again and headed to
KLIA Airport which was one hour’s journey. I asked the Grab driver to help me
to get into the car. When I was in the car, I prayed that God would send someone
to help me when I reached KLIA.
At that very moment, Janice called me
and asked about my situation. I told her that I was in Grab car and heading
towards KLIA. She scolded me for not going back to join my team.
While in the car, I was thinking
instead of making two trips to the airport, I could have done only one trip to
the KLIA and take an earlier flight too.
At last, I reached KLIA and it was
8.15 pm. I saw 2 ladies standing and holding plaques in front of the arrival hall. I
didn’t bother about them but I instead concentrated in getting out of
the car.
After I got out of the car, the
driver put my
baggage on a trolley, he went off. The two ladies holding plaques approached me
and asked if they could help me. I saw their name tags and I knew they
were working there. They offered to wheel me, together with my bags.
When I asked them where were they
from one of them told me they were Malaysian
Airline (MAS) staff. I felt very relieved and pleased that I was with the right
people. God really sent angels to help me!
I told them I wanted to book a flight
ticket back to Penang. They were pleased to help me. The two staff wheeled and
pushed my trolley of bags for quite a distance before we reached the ticket
counter.
At the Malindo Air Counter, I asked
them to help me find the earliest flight to Penang.
They said there was only one flight at 11.45 pm.
There were no other flights for that night. There was a
Malaysian Airline Counter by the side, but the fare was very expensive. They
said if I wanted an Air Asia flight, I would have to go to terminal 2 (I had to
take a Grab car there.)
There was an earlier flight if I
wanted, but at Air Asia, there was no one to help if I went there. So I bought
a flight ticket for 11.45 pm with Malindo Air. When I was at the counter, a
male staff checked-in my 2 bags.
After checking-in my bags, the male
staff asked me to have my dinner while waiting. I asked him, how to contact him
if I needed help. He gave me his contact no. and asked to message him, when I
needed his help. Thank God for sending another angel to help me.
KLIA was big
and spacious. I slowly wheeled myself to a spot where I could rest and
have dinner. Some shops were still open. Fast food restaurants were open, with
people queuing to eat/buy dinner.
From far, I saw the KFC outlet. There
was an OKU restroom when I passed by. I decided to go to the restroom first
before heading to KFC.
I asked the Lord to help and protect
me as I was alone in the toilet. I asked HIM to keep me safe from danger or a fall. I could feel HIS presence there
with me. I felt relief after coming out of the toilet.
I wheeled myself towards KFC which
was quite a distance away. I was quite tired when arrived there. It was after 9 pm
but there were still a lot of people of all races lining up to order their food.
I queued up to order my food too. As
I’m a small eater, I only ordered mashed potato, salad, and ice-cream. The KFC
staff was kind enough to bring my food to my table.
I ate as well as observed the people
who came in and out. Many people were having their dinner/supper too.
There were many locals and foreigners
lining up to order their food and also eat there. It was very interesting to
see people coming in and going out.
Around 10 pm I messaged the staff to
come and push me as I was too tired to wheel myself back there. He messaged
that he would come for me at 11 pm. I didn’t know
Janice had messaged me until
she called me saying that my flight was delayed for 1 hour.
My goodness, that would be another
one long hour waiting! Around 11 pm, the staff came to me together with another
young staff. They wheeled a small wheelchair with them.
They wheeled me near the check-in
place and transferred me over to the small
wheelchair. This wheelchair is for disabled/elderly passengers when boarding the plane.
They helped me until the departure hall
than they left.
I was really thankful to God for sending these angels to help me in my
hour of needs.
Many people were waiting in the Departure
Hall. It was nearly midnight and some people were half asleep. I was also very
tired sitting in the small airplane wheelchair.
We had to wait another hour for
our plane. Some passengers went to the front
counter to enquire what had happened. They were
told that the flight was delayed.
Nearing the time, air stewards and
plane crew came in. Slowly the door opens, and I was the first to be wheeled
into the plane. I sat in the front row. Other
passengers slowly came in. There were
many passengers on that flight as in the next few days, there was a Public
Holiday.
When the plane started moving, I
thought to myself, “This was the first time, after nearly a decade, that I
entered into an airplane.” I was happy that I was able to fly by myself.
We were each given a cup of plain
water. When we were in mid-air, the pilot made an announcement. He told us some
bad news. Penang airport was closed and our plane had to turn back to KL. It
was already after one am. I heard them saying the Penang line way closed at 2 am
Everyone jumped up with questions but
there were no answers. I panicked too as it was very late and I was very tired.
I wanted to reach home as soon as possible.
At that time, I closed my eyes and
said a short prayer “Lord please let the plane reach Penang as everyone is very
tired.” Within minutes, the pilot announced
“Good news. Penang railway will be
opening for our plane to land”
Wow! My heartfelt so relieved and I
thanked God for answering my prayers. God was good at answering prayers. It was
a miracle!!!!! There were smiles on everyone’s faces.
When we reached Penang runway track
and the stop, I felt happy and relieved that I was in Penang Airport at
last!
Passengers slowly walked down the passager way. I was
the last person to leave the plane. When I got down, the plane’s assistant
wheeled me to collect my bags. The whole airport was so quiet and empty.
Janice was alone waiting for me at
the Waiting Hall. When I saw her, I was really happy. She took me to the
restroom, before going to the car.
It was around 3 am, when I got into
my brother in-law’s car. They took me home.
I reached home at 3.30 am. I felt so
relieved, happy and proud of myself that I could back from KL by myself with
God’s help.
Thank you, Lord, for helping and
guiding me back home safely.
