Cancer girl's big comeback
It was Chinese New Year 2003, but she was in no mood for celebrations.
Miss Sabrina Wah, then 13, had just been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
From that point on, battling the odds and overcoming life's obstacles - including the amputation of a leg - became part and parcel of her life.
But she took it all in her stride and, nine years on, her never-say-die spirit has triumphed.
Last month, Miss Wah, now 22, graduated from Singapore Polytechnic's (SP) Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) with a diploma in maritime transportation management.
She had a grade point average of 3.83 and received an award from the Singapore Maritime Employers' Federation.
She was also awarded the SMA-SMTC - MaritimeONE Scholarship to pursue a degree in Maritime Business and Maritime Law at Plymouth University in the UK in September.
Recalling the dark days nine years ago, Miss Wah's mother, Madam Shirley Ding, 50, a housewife, told The New Paper: "The mood at home was quite down."
The divorcee, who had split from MissWah's father in 1994, added: "I was stunned when I got the news, but for her sake, I had to be strong."
Miss Wah, who is now a part-time administrative assistant, was devastated.
"The news came as a blow to me. I thought I was going to die," she said.
The next five years were challenging for her and her family.
Miss Wah, who lives in Woodlands with her mother, stepfather and two stepbrothers aged 11 and 12, had to stop school.
She lost count of the number of times she was in hospital for tests and operations.
But she took it all in her stride and, nine years on, her never-say-die spirit has triumphed.
Last month, Miss Wah, now 22, graduated from Singapore Polytechnic's (SP) Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) with a diploma in maritime transportation management.
She had a grade point average of 3.83 and received an award from the Singapore Maritime Employers' Federation.
She was also awarded the SMA-SMTC - MaritimeONE Scholarship to pursue a degree in Maritime Business and Maritime Law at Plymouth University in the UK in September.
Recalling the dark days nine years ago, Miss Wah's mother, Madam Shirley Ding, 50, a housewife, told The New Paper: "The mood at home was quite down."
The divorcee, who had split from MissWah's father in 1994, added: "I was stunned when I got the news, but for her sake, I had to be strong."
Miss Wah, who is now a part-time administrative assistant, was devastated.
"The news came as a blow to me. I thought I was going to die," she said.
The next five years were challenging for her and her family.
Miss Wah, who lives in Woodlands with her mother, stepfather and two stepbrothers aged 11 and 12, had to stop school.
She lost count of the number of times she was in hospital for tests and operations.
Along the way, there was a heart complication that required surgery. She also lost her hair as a result of chemotherapy and wore a beanie most of the time.
"I was really afraid of going to the hospital. I often had hallucinations due to fevers which were a result of the chemotherapy," she said.
But her parents were by her side every step of the way, said Miss Wah.
"I really appreciate their support. I was never alone, my parents took turns to keep me company," she said.
Her stepfather also visited her at the hospital occasionally.
Through the treatment, Miss Wah's heart contracted an infection at the mitral valve.
In June 2003, she had to undergo an operation to install a mechanical valve in her heart.
The next month, she underwent an operation to try to save her left leg, which was the source of the disease.
Amputated
But her heart stopped again midway through the surgery and the doctors had to abandon the operation.
In September 2003, she was told that her left leg had to be amputated from the middle of her thigh.
She said: "I didn't want it and I told myself that I'd rather die. But the doctors persuaded me and eventually I accepted it."
She was fitted with a prosthetic leg two years later, in 2005.
Madam Ding said: "She was very down after the amputation."
"I was really afraid of going to the hospital. I often had hallucinations due to fevers which were a result of the chemotherapy," she said.
But her parents were by her side every step of the way, said Miss Wah.
"I really appreciate their support. I was never alone, my parents took turns to keep me company," she said.
Her stepfather also visited her at the hospital occasionally.
Through the treatment, Miss Wah's heart contracted an infection at the mitral valve.
In June 2003, she had to undergo an operation to install a mechanical valve in her heart.
The next month, she underwent an operation to try to save her left leg, which was the source of the disease.
Amputated
But her heart stopped again midway through the surgery and the doctors had to abandon the operation.
In September 2003, she was told that her left leg had to be amputated from the middle of her thigh.
She said: "I didn't want it and I told myself that I'd rather die. But the doctors persuaded me and eventually I accepted it."
She was fitted with a prosthetic leg two years later, in 2005.
Madam Ding said: "She was very down after the amputation."
It took Miss Wah about a year to get used to the feel of the prosthetic leg. She was on crutches until 2008.
But she became a more upbeat when she was told that she could return to school.
But she became a more upbeat when she was told that she could return to school.
"The doctors told me that I could go back to school. But at first, I didn't want to because I was afraid of the stares I would get," she said.
So she stayed home for another year before her mother eventually persuaded her to resume her studies.
Madam Ding said: "She can't stay at home and do nothing. Life has to go on."
Miss Wah, who studied at CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh), said: "I didn't want to go back to a mainstream school because I would have to wear a skirt and people would see my prosthetic leg."
So she enrolled in BMC International College in 2007 to take her O levels.
She said: "As I was 'forced' by my mother into studying, I did so grudgingly. I had no ambition, no aspirations, and I just wanted to drift along."
She failed the O levels on her first attempt and left the school, but retook them the next year by studying on her own.
She scored 18 points for her L1R4 (first language and relevant four subjects) and was accepted by SP.
Said Miss Wah: "I worked harder the second time because I didn't want to take it a third time."
She said being accepted by SP gave her hope.
"I was both excited and worried about going back to a classroom again. I was worried about moving around in school. It felt weird," she said.
But she started excelling in her studies in SP and has not looked back since.
Miss Jeanette Quek, 20, who is Miss Wah's best friend and classmate, said: "Sabrina has really been an inspiration to me because she never gave in to self-pity, despite her condition.
"Others might have given up, but she just went on with life."
Miss Wah, who enjoys karaoke, hopes to work in maritime law in the future.
She said: "I'm really excited about furthering my studies overseas, but scared at the same time as I'll be going alone."
limyufan@sph.com.sg
This article was first published in The New Paper.
Source:
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/features/people/1159684/Cancer_girl_s_big_comeback.html
So she stayed home for another year before her mother eventually persuaded her to resume her studies.
Madam Ding said: "She can't stay at home and do nothing. Life has to go on."
Miss Wah, who studied at CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh), said: "I didn't want to go back to a mainstream school because I would have to wear a skirt and people would see my prosthetic leg."
So she enrolled in BMC International College in 2007 to take her O levels.
She said: "As I was 'forced' by my mother into studying, I did so grudgingly. I had no ambition, no aspirations, and I just wanted to drift along."
She failed the O levels on her first attempt and left the school, but retook them the next year by studying on her own.
She scored 18 points for her L1R4 (first language and relevant four subjects) and was accepted by SP.
Said Miss Wah: "I worked harder the second time because I didn't want to take it a third time."
She said being accepted by SP gave her hope.
"I was both excited and worried about going back to a classroom again. I was worried about moving around in school. It felt weird," she said.
But she started excelling in her studies in SP and has not looked back since.
Miss Jeanette Quek, 20, who is Miss Wah's best friend and classmate, said: "Sabrina has really been an inspiration to me because she never gave in to self-pity, despite her condition.
"Others might have given up, but she just went on with life."
Miss Wah, who enjoys karaoke, hopes to work in maritime law in the future.
She said: "I'm really excited about furthering my studies overseas, but scared at the same time as I'll be going alone."
limyufan@sph.com.sg
This article was first published in The New Paper.
Source:
http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/features/people/1159684/Cancer_girl_s_big_comeback.html
Reading this article, it make me realize how lucky and stupid I am. A girl who is so down on her luck still manages to pull herself back on her feet. She was just 13 then but she was already fighting with bone cancer. Although complications arise, she lost a leg due to cancer but she never gave up and still still lived on strong. She may be afraid of wierd stares she will get from strangers in school but that did not stop her. She did not wallow in self-pity and instead continue on with determination.
ReplyDeleteI think her spirit and determination is something we can take away from this article and apply to real life. No one is going to wait for us, life isn't going to miraculously turn better. We have to fight and achieve it for ourselves.
After reading the article about Ms Wah, I admire her a lot. Not only did she brave through her bone cancer, she even carried on with her studies as she tried to overcome the illness. Other than her bone cancer, she also had heart complications, which I feel was very pitiful. Her heart trouble unfortunately caused her left leg to have to be amputated. Although after the amputation she got a prosthetic leg but felt down about it, she eventually got on with life. After that, she continued her studies and now she is even going to study overseas. I feel that Ms Wah’s story, with her determination, is inspiring and touching. Reading this article, I learn to appreciate life more and feel lucky. :)
ReplyDeleteBattling cancer at the age of 13 and going through a series of operations and tests must have been extremely hard for her. Her leg was amputated and she also suffered from a heart complication. Nevertheless, she still managed to further her studies and did really well.
ReplyDeleteThis shows how determined she is even though she started off as someone with no ambition since she was forced to go back to school. I learned that it is important to never give up and always getting back up after tons of setbacks. The fact that she managed to do so well in her studies and did not falter or be discouraged for a long time should be respected and looked up to. Ms Wah might have gone through a difficult time at such a young age but she still managed to overcome it. It proves how all of us can succeed despite any setbacks or problems in our lives as long as we set our mind to it.
I personally feel that Ms Wah is a very brave and courageous person. Despite being through countless tests and operations, and amputation of leg, she still managed to pull herself through the difficulties and challenges.
ReplyDeleteFor a girl to have her leg amputated and start working on the prosthetic leg must be very tough and inconvenient. In addition the side effects of chemotherapy make it worst. I think Ms Wah must have put in a lot of determination and effort in getting herself reorganized for the new phase of her life with her parents support.
I think that what we can learn from Ms Wah is her strong willpower and determination. We do face many challenges and difficulties in our lives. However, we should not be discouraged but continue to strive on. The formula for success is simple,"Work Hard & Never Give Up", use it to keep our momentum going and one day we are going to reach success.
There are countless examples of people, despite their physical disabilities, still endeavor in their work and eventually achieved something.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading so many similar articles, people might have the misunderstanding that only when we face setbacks, then we will start to work hard. However, I do not agree with this. We should always be our best regardless of the condition we are in and give up should never be an option to us.
In this article, Sabrina is a living testimonial that failing is not the end. She failed her 'O' Level once but she did not give up. To many of us, we probably will feel that it is the end of the world, if we fail our O' Level. However, as for Sabrina, she continue to strive on and she did it the second time.
In conclusion, success is not built on success. It’s built on failure. It’s built on frustration. Sometimes it’s built on catastrophe. Hence, as long as we don't give up, we will achieve what we want.