Busy Weekend

Penang Adventist Hospital
Penang Adventist Hospital.

Last weekend was one of the busiest I have had in a long time. On Saturday morning, Vincent picked me up to go meet someone we have met twice before at the Penang Adventist Hospital. He is a paraplegic, suffered spinal cord injury eight months ago in an accident and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the hospital. He was asleep when we arrived. Vincent and I chatted at the lobby while waiting for him to wake up. However, we left after finding him still sound asleep the second time we went to his room.

Relay for Life
Relay for Life balloons.

I barely had time to catch my breath and catheterise when Dr. Oo picked me up again to attend the appreciation party for the participants of Relay for Life. The Relay for Life is a fund raising cum cancer awareness cum celebration of cancer survivors event that is held simultaneously worldwide. About one hundred guests attended the party at the ruman Hospice at Jalan Ayer Itam.

Relay for Life thank you party
Guests browsing photographs of Relay for Life.

There was a dance presentation by the girls from Island Hospital, a short video clip of the Relay for Life that was held in March at the Taman Perbandaran and certificate presentation. This was followed a tea break and games. I left early with Bryan because I needed to pack my luggage and prepare my presentation for the next day. Bryan is the current webmaster for the yet-to-be officially launched joint Penang Hospice Society and National Cancer Society of Malaysia (Penang Branch) website.

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Penang preentation
Group photo after the talk at the cathedral.

Early Sunday, Vincent picked me up again to give a presentation to about ten teenagers from the Chinese-speaking cathecism class, their parents and some parishioners at the cathedral. The talk was regarding my life, my faith and how they can contribute to the Independent Living project that I am working on. The gist of my message that morning was that as Christians, we have been called upon to serve God. Assisting disabled persons with needs is one of the ways of serving God.

Penang International Airport

After a quick lunch at home, I finished packing up my luggage, cleared the fridge of the remaining perishable foodstuff and got Peter to drop me off at the airport. I was glad that I got to the airport early. At least I had some time to relax and reflect on the events of the past two days.

Clouds - somewhere between Penang and Kuala Lumpur
In flight somewhere between Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

One of the things that I realised was that I could manage a hectic schedule like that, especially if it is for the Independent Living projects if I could get help for the cooking and other household chores. It would be such a pity and a waste for me to have travelled so far and learnt so much only to be weighted down by the continuous trivialities that had rendered me unproductive in many ways.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

2 thoughts on “Busy Weekend”

  1. yes, peter, since becominga reader of your blog I have often thought if there was an organization inplace, or pherhas a way to do fundraising to afford you a part time house-keeper or cook, thit it would truly be beneficial to your physical and mental health. I hope you can reach out to your readers and that we can come up with a solution together to try and ease the burden of help for cooking and household chores.

    Its hard for the able bodied to realize truly how much energy the mundane tasks take away. Somehow I think you must pray on this and be patient. Its hard to have a taste of the life you are inteneded for and then have to be trapped in a situation that does not afford the purpose for which we are truly created.

    I wonder if you are too humble or too hardworking and used to pain to reach out and ask for the help that you deserve. It would seem to me a natural thing that you deserve to have assistance with everyday living, not because you cannot do everything, and not because you aren not capable, but because you need the burden eased, and your best time will be spent in fulfilling other parts of your life and impacting the lives of others.

    What solution would you like to see, if you don’t mind me asking? Does your government offer people with disabilities any sort of household assistance?
    How much would it be to hire someone to do your shopping and healthy cooking say part time?

    Maybe we could raise money for you to try and accomplish getting you assistance?

    Here in USA its about 10 – 15 per hour to get that kind of help– at least where I live.

    think of a figure. Then we shoudl try and reach the financial goal?

    I hope I am not being too presumptous. And my deepest apologies if I have offered advice or suggestions which do not agree with you.

    My best wishes always to you.

    Jean

    Peter:
    Thank you for your suggestions. I am trying to work out something along the lines of the Independent Living Programmes that I am implementing in Penang.

  2. dude, let’s shave your head again. i like your bald look. amacam? 😀

    Peter:
    I just trimmed my hair. I am game for that bald look but for what cause may I ask?

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