Hey! I’m Hema from Melaka, Malaysia. I’m just 18 years old. Here is my story after my SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) examination.

Two years ago, my life was bright like the sun after SPM but it slowly became dark. I would not tell you that I never enjoyed my life after SPM. I did but just for a while. I was shining like a star until December 24, 2019, after which it became dark like a moon.

On the night of Dec 24, when everyone else was celebrating Christmas Eve, I was lying in the hospital. I was admitted to a private hospital to find out the cause of shaking in my legs. I took an MRI on the spinal cord but doctors could not find the cause. They only found out that I had an inflammation on my spinal cord from the C2-C6 levels. Doctors suggested taking steroids but my parents refused because it would usually cause a lot of side effects. Soon, I was discharged from the hospital.

To boost my morale, my beloved family took me to Sarawak, and needless to say, I was excited as it was my first time on an airplane.

However, my condition became worse after reaching Sarawak, and I regretted going on a vacation.

When I returned home, life took a 360-degrees turn. I had to depend on my mother to carry out my daily chores, such as bathing, eating, and dressing, among others. My father had to carry me as I could not walk.

Nevertheless, I have not lost my faith and gave up on my determination. I am very certain I will be back with the same vigour and abilities to carry on with life as per normal. I am confident that my positivity can help me face any challenges thrown on my path.

I have now started using a wheelchair to assist my mobility. Although I initially felt ashamed to be wheelchair-bound, I later regained confidence on my self as I started to accept me for who I am. God doesn't just punish us. We just have to be patient and confident in ourselves.


This story by Hema was originally featured on The Unique You Facebook page and has been reproduced in Astro Ulagam.