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<P><FONT face=ARIAL size=+1><A href="http://thestar.com.my/default.asp">The Star
Online</A> > Features</FONT></P>
<P></P>
<DIV align=right><FONT face=Arial color=#9f9f9f size=2><B>Thursday May 5,
2005</B></FONT></DIV>
<H1>An outstanding mum</H1><B>WHEEL POWER by ANTHONY THANASAYAN</B>
<P>Mothers around the globe are having their special day this weekend as
Mother’s Day comes around again the second Sunday in May. </P>
<P>For me it will be mums of persons with disabilities, like Roxanna Lim, and
her 20-year-old daughter Wong Lee Foong who will truly stand out during this
blessed occasion. </P>
<P>The 52-year-old from Taman Eng Ann in Klang e-mailed me last week to share
some of her personal thoughts for Mother’s Day based on her life with Lee Foong
who is diagnosed a spastic quadriplegic. </P>
<P>
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<DIV class=caption>Roxanna Lim and Wong Lee
Foong.</DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Here is their unique story as told by
Roxanna: “I had been a social worker for over a decade working with severely
physical and mentally disabled persons in a residential home before I decided to
give it up 15 years ago to give all my attention to Lee Foong. </P>
<P>“Despite my exposure to disabled children all those wonderful years, I had
never seen a child quite like her who was so neglected, deprived of human care
and affection and had virtually nothing to look forward to in life. </P>
<P>“Rather than turn a blind eye to the five-year-old as I guess many would, I
decided to adopt Lee Foong and give her a home in my house as well as in my
heart. </P>
<P>“I was quite surprised myself that I had chosen to do this. However, it
slowly became clearer to me that my choice came about as a direct answer to my
prayer – and all that was left for me to do from then on was to put my trust in
Almighty God in seeing to it that I would be the best mother for Lee Foong.
</P>
<P>“And the journey for the both of us hasn’t been easy, to say the least. Lee
Foong’s health and condition, particularly before she reached the age of 10, was
quite difficult. </P>
<P>“Because she also had epilepsy, she was put on medication three times a day.
She experienced frequent coughs, suffered constipation, was underweight because
of difficulties in consuming food and water and had nightmares that caused her
to cry hysterically whenever she was left alone. </P>
<P>“Those moments were so intense and excruciating for the both of us that I
thought that my girl wouldn’t make it to her teenage years. </P>
<P><B>Turning into a young adult</B> </P>
<P>“Today, however, Lee Foong is about to turn into a young adult. She hardly
has seizures anymore and her weight has stabilised to a healthy level. She
understands when people talk to her and smiles, and even closes her eyes to pray
at church meetings. </P>
<P>“Raising a child with multiple disabilities hasn’t only drained me physically
but financially too. But there has never been a time when God’s providence has
failed us. Whilst some people shun us, others have mysteriously knocked on our
door to give us cash and foodstuff – without waiting for a ‘thank you’
afterwards. </P>
<P>“As a single mother, Lee Foong and I continue to face our daily share of
challenges. I am reminded of (and shocked by) the life of the so-called ‘brain
dead’ American Terri Schiavo and how her existence was terminated by the US
courts by pulling out her feeding tube recently. </P>
<P>“Although Schiavo was caught in a ‘vegetative state’ she was still able to
touch the lives of millions of people all around the world who fought hard to
the very last for her to live another day. (Schiavo eventually died in her
hospice room.) </P>
<P>“To me, Lee Foong’s life is no different from Schiavo’s. That is why I never
fail to help her live a normal life every day which includes brushing her teeth
each morning and feeding her even though she struggles to eat her food,
frequently biting the spoon in the process. </P>
<P>“I have to carry her to the bathroom for her bath where I help her do her
stretching exercises as well. </P>
<P>“And Lee Foong gives back to dear ol’ mum too! She provides great company in
the kitchen seated, in her buggy-chair, as I prepare our meal. </P>
<P>“And I take her with me to the post office when I have to pay for my bills.
</P>
<P>“Speaking of money, because of my time spent with my daughter, there is
little or no time for us to make extra money for ourselves. </P>
<P>“We rent a house that has not been painted for more than 10 years. We managed
to acquire furniture at low prices or at no cost at all because they were
‘handed-down’. </P>
<P>“My van looks run-down too but the faithful ‘war-horse’ has been dutifully
taking us to hospital visits, meetings, therapies, school & grocery shops
and back. </P>
<P>“In the midst of our struggle, I always try to count my blessings. Although I
wasn’t able to upgrade myself academically or pursue a better career, my time
spent with Lee Fong has been a good training ground in pushing on for the finer
things in life. I have learned the hard way that results are not what that’s
really important but the ability to touch another life through love and hope.
</P>
<P>“I sincerely hope that the story of my lovely daughter’s life which I share
with your <I>Wheel Power</I> readers today will touch and inspire everyone to
stop for a moment to think about what people with disabilities and their mothers
have to go through every day of their lives. </P>
<P>“Happy Mother’s Day everyone.”</P>
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