The story of Mr and Mrs Chua

He was barely 18 months old when Chua Yie Shyan, 31, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. For most of his life, Yie Shyan struggles with varying levels of disability. Besides physical limitations, he also loses the ability to speak.  To better communicate with his son, his mother, Mdm Ong would stay in school to learn sign languages together with Yie Shyan in his early school days.

While his mother can decipher him through his sign languages, other family members still find it challenging to communicate and understand Yie Shyan. His father, Mr Chua, who was the sole breadwinner back then, had little time with him due to his long working hours at the construction site. But this did not deter him from understanding Yie Shyan. He would try to guess what his son needs with repeated attempts until he gets it right.

Yie Shyan needs help with his daily living activities, such as feeding, toileting and dressing. In a typical day, he would require water and milk constantly, up to ten times daily. The parents get their rest only after their son goes to bed at night.

Recently, the old couple met the toughest challenge when Mr Chua found out he had nasopharynx cancer in 2010, followed by a relapse in 2019. He had to stop work, where he underwent several rounds of radiation therapy sessions to beat his cancer into remission.

To make ends meet in the family, Mdm Ong took up a job as a kitchen assistant. It was tough for Mr Chua who is now the main caregiver for Yie Shyan. His cancer treatment had side effects, such as frequent giddy spells, weakness on his limbs, insomnia and mood swings. Yet he continues to do his best in caring for his son when his mother is at work. Fortunately, our nurse visits Yie Shyan once every month to help the Chua family change his feeding tube. HNF also provides a full waiver for Yie Shyan’s nursing fees.

For Mr Chua and Mdm Ong, what has helped them remain positive despite the harsh reality of their situation is their love for Yie Shyan. Mdm Ong shared how their son would shower them with hugs and kisses. “Yie Shyan never forgets our (my husband and I) birthdays, as well as important occasions such as Mother’s Day & Father’s Day. His simple acts of love make us feel appreciated,” said Mdm Ong.  

Being a caregiver is tough and demanding but they will continue to care for their son as long as they can. They only hope for Yie Shyan to remain in good health. “Next time you see someone in the wheelchair with a caregiver, give a nod and smile at the caregiver. Because it is a form of encouragement to us as caregivers”, said Mr Chua.