Five years ago, 64-year-old Mr Chong Moon Yeen was behind the wheel of his taxi when he unexpectedly suffered a stroke. He was rushed to the hospital and spent several days in a coma in the ICU. The stroke had caused a blood clot in his brain, and to relieve the pressure from the swelling, doctors had to perform a delicate surgery, removing part of his skull. Once stabilised, Mr Chong was transferred to MWS Bethany Nursing Home (BNH) – Choa Chu Kang, where he began his long journey of recovery, receiving round-the-clock medical and nursing care, as well as therapy.
“I just couldn’t manage caring for him alone because he was a large man, and I wasn’t strong enough to lift him by myself,” shared his wife, Mdm Alice Sih Lai Khuen. “I was also juggling a full-time job at the time, which made it even harder.”
About a year after her husband’s stroke, Mdm Alice was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that weakened her muscles, making it impossible for her to continue working. With their two children still in school and the family relying on financial aid for daily expenses, Mdm Alice felt overwhelmed, unsure how she could afford the care her husband desperately needed.
