I was briefed on the TLC program a few weeks back by Jonathan who came to Poya Boutique and spends ½ hours with me explaining their vision and mission of the company and programme. To me, it is a really interesting way to help the needy. I believe a lot of people are interested to get involved with charity activities but lack the exposure and the proper channel to contribute.
With TLC’s Promise Me campaign, I found a way to contribute. Talking to him made me realized that there are a lot of simple wish by people that sounds easy but means a lot to them.
He told me about Sazlina and her wish is to buy herself a nice baju kurung.
With that in mind, I went to NASAM (National Stroke Association of Malaysia) on 26th August 2010.
(Group Therapy Session)
When I reached NASAM, there are therapy classes on going. Most of the patients are the elderly and each of them was accompanied by volunteers. They patiently do the same routine to recover from the stroke. Usually the sessions are 2 hours, 3 times a week. I really admire the volunteers and the patients. The road to recovery is a very long process and yet they still persevere.
(Stroke Patients and Volunteers)
(NASAM Volunteers)
Finally Sazlina arrived with her parents and after a quick introduction, her mother told me how it happened.
Sazlina started her career as an English teacher after graduating from the UK and after a while she got transferred to the Ministry of Education. One day, while coming back from an assembly with her mother, it suddenly hit her. At first she can’t feel her tongue and she began to loose her footing. Her vision started to blur and she felt unconscious. When she woke up, she found herself at the hospital and the doctor declared that she got a stroke. She began to lose her memory and finally lost her ability for speech. Eventually she can’t move her limbs. But she didn’t give up, and her family stood by her through this arduous ordeal.
(Me and Sazlina)
(Sazlina and her dad)
Slowly, through speech and group therapy at NASAM, she regained her ability to move some part of her body and recover her capability of speech. Due to her undying spirit and determination to get better, she managed to achieve progress in 6 months instead of the initial 9 months as estimated by the doctors.
Today, due to the continuous support of her family who never give up on her, she is starting to walk and improved her mobility.
I am truly inspired by her spirit and determination to get better. Now I realized that however busy, I will make time for my family and myself. I will enjoy life to the fullest as we will never know when mishaps can happen to us.
After our session at NASAM, I invited her and her parents over to Poya Boutique at BSC. She went through our collection and set her eyes on a beautiful set of cream coloured Baju Kurung. We took her measurement and surprisingly it fit her well. I can sense her happiness and I was glad to be able to fulfil her wish. In the spirit of Ramadhan, a box of Raya Cookies was also given to her and her family.
(Measuring Sazlina)
(Sazlina’s chosen baju kurung)
This experience is an eye opener for me. Even though it was very brief and just a small contribution, I feel relieved and grateful for what I have. It made me appreciate how family is important and how precious this life is. I hope this will inspire me and others to continue helping the less fortunate and those in need.
I would like thank The Truly Loving Company again for giving me the opportunity to participate in this programme and to make Sazlina’s wish come true.
(Happy Faces!)
