Pong Seow Chin

'True gift' …… being prone to mobility and recognition.

At the age of 19, in the year of 1985, Pong Seow Chin had a viral attack of her spinal cord leading to paraplegia, which resulted in her losing all sensation from her waist down. She was admitted to the hospital for two and a half years but as there was no improvement her mother brought her back home and have her herbal treatment which still did not improve her condition.

In 1990, Pong was referred to Yayasan Sultan Idris Shah. The CBR team of Yayasan then did an assessment of her condition and over the years systematically treated her for physical disabilities.

As she had no bowel and bladder control the CBR team arranged with the General Hospital Ipoh to have a catheter inserted for her. As Pong had several pressure sores all over her body, her mother was trained to clean her pressure sores.

As a result of this her pressure sores healed. She was also able to control her bladder and bowel movements and change the catheter by herself. She learnt to be independent in her daily living activities. During this time, the Yayasan improved her living conditions and home improvement.

The CBR team designed a trolley for Pong to be mobile and move around her house. Besides that, Yayasan arranged the installation of a generator to provide electricity for her house and a telephone to enable her to communicate with her relatives and friends.

In 1997, Pong Seow Chin had a fall from her bed and fractured both her legs. Yayasan then referred her to Mr. Ramanathan - Orthopedic Surgeon of General Hospital Ipoh and was advised that both her legs should be amputated as the wound was septic. After the amputation was done at no cost, a skin drafting was done on the pressure sores.

For her courage and inspiration to other people with disabilities she was awarded the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian [PJK] by His Royal Highness, Sultan of Perak in April 1998. Now she is continuing a healthy and happy life. She earns a living in contracted cottage industries at home at piecemeal wages.