Time flies. It has been more than a month since i began this journey to make a difference to someone else's life. Its was challenging for myself at the beginning, my first visit to the Shelter for the Mentally Challenged in Ampang was filled with curiosity and also fear. I didn't know what to expect from this place as it was my very first attempt to approach patients who are suffering from such a condition. To be honest I was a little nervous at first and even scared as I entered the Shelter. The sight of these patients staring at me made me uncomfortable initially, but i slowly came to realize that they must be even more curious to see an outsider walking into their sanctuary called the "Selangor Handicapped & Mentally Retarded Children Center".
Looking back at the first few visits, i got to interact closely with my patient Ong Boy, as he is known now. A little about him here, Ong was actually born normal, lived a normal life just like you and me till the age of 20s until he met with an accident that changed his life forever. Ong is now 33 years old, but suffers a mental syndrome that prevents him to live like a normal person. His behavior is child-like and he keeps on mumbling to himself some unknown words. However he shows expressions and reacts to others, just like a baby. Due to the lack of exercise, his limbs are under developed and weak but he is able to walk like normal.
Ong Boy once knew how to ride a bicycle all by himself, just like myself when i had this MCPB - the bicycle that gave me the freedom to be mobile and to not rely on my parents at times. I was told that this wish was highlighted as he often shows excitement whenever there is a bicycle passing by outside the shelter.
Thanks to The Truly Loving Company, i took up this pledge under their Promise Me Campaign to fulfill the wish of Ong Boy to own his very own bicycle all for himself.
So how have i contributed? Having a busy schedule on the weekdays, i chose to visit the shelter on the weekends consistently every week from the 1st of August 2010. I usually spend about 45-60 minutes to give Ong Boy a few rounds within the compound of the shelter during the afternoons or evenings. Knowing very well that my efforts alone to get him to cycle the MCPB will not be that successful, i gave the shelter helpers a lesson or two how to guide Ong Boy to fully utilize the bicycle during the weekdays when the patients are allocated a "exercise" time, or more of a play time for them. I was told that even when i am not around, Ong Boy is helped with the bicycle. One of my biggest obstacles is getting him to pedal the bike and navigate it all by himself. Due to the weakened limbs and lower leg muscles, Ong Boy is unable to cycle this MCPB on his own. Hence i provide support to him during the rounds by controlling the directions of the MCPB while i let him pedal and this itself makes him excited -this joy can be clearly seen by his facial expressions :)
Sometimes when i visit the Shelter, i do bring along with me some chocolates for the rest of the patients. This asian thinking of not going empty handed to someone elses home bugs me at times, hence i do that as a form of respect to the other patients.
Now for time to reflect on things, I do feel that more awareness has to be created to allow more people to provide their support to the needy. Once again without this Promise Me campaign, the needs of Ong Boy would surely not be highlighted and he may never get the chance to fulfill this wish of his.
What will i do from here? I will continue visiting this shelter during my free time to provide joy and happiness to Ong Boy and the rest of the patients there. After all, life is all about making a difference! My pledge does not end here, i will strive my best to make sure Ong Boy learns how to cycle this bicycle on his own with lesser supervision.
Once he has fully mastered the skill of cycling the bicycle, then i will definitely get him a much better replacement! Till then, i will keep my faith on this very own precious bicycle once used by me, now fondly known as MCPB, owned by its new owner - Ong Boy.
Stay tuned for Part Three.
HJH
