“The accident has already happened, so there isn’t really a choice. Life goes on,” said 30 year old navy man, Jason Chee, devoid of any emotion.
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| Jason Chee (source) |
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. That is exactly what navy man, Jason Chee has decided to do. After being critically injured while doing a routine check aboard a warship, Jason Chee has decided to take it in his stride and keep living life.Caught between a motorized winch and a berthing rope, Jason lost both of his legs, left arm and three fingers on his right hand. Jason Chee was admitted to hospital on December the 10th unconscious and only awoke two weeks later on Christmas Eve. As a Military Expert Rank 2 from the Republic of Singapore Navy, Jason still possessed the mannerisms of respecting a commanding officer, so upon visitation from his navy superiors, Jason Chee, drugged and drowsy tried to raise his hand in salute, while his family wept behind him over the effort of acting loyal.
The whole nation of Singapore stood
behind Jason, “Blood is thicker than water” and in this case blood was very
much needed. Over 800 Singaporean citizens, when hearing the appeal given by
the Republic of Singapore Navy, rushed to blood banks to help give Jason Chee
the blood he needed. From the loss of his limbs, Jason naturally, lost a lot of
blood and not enough was at hand to give him an immediate transfusion. So
before the nation heard about the appeal, Jason had to undergo having blood
withdrawn from his groin area, ten times! So when the nation stood behind him,
he stated, “The first thing that came to me was, wow, the whole of Singapore is
supporting me. I was so touched and I cried, I really cried.”
When one person goes through such a
traumatic experience, they will automatically feel alone. They will feel as if
no one knows what they are going through and that people can’t possibly
understand the kind of pain and emotional conflict going on within themselves,
the fight for control and the depression of what the future might hold. So for
someone like Jason, who has gone through this exact emotional turmoil, to have
the people of his country show such devotion, care and support for him, has him
feeling very touched and in many ways helped him with his resolve on his life.
When asked about the loss of his limbs Jason said, “I still have hope. I can
still move my right arm and I still have some fingers left.” He also said, “I’m
happy, because the worst pain is over.”
Jason has mentioned that had it not been
for the people around him, supporting him daily, praying and rooting for his
recovery, and also issuing him advice on staying positive (mentally and
emotionally), he would have long sunken into a hole filled with despair.
Another main source of his resolve to move forward in his life, is his late
mother’s advice to him of never giving up on anything. That is why he is so
adamant to rebuild his life no matter what it takes. “My character is different
from most people, he says, I’ve got good determination and a strong fighting
spirit.
“Self-pity and depression were never far away.” Says 49 year
old, Jenny Pong Siew Chin.
Jenny Pong is another person similar to
Jason. She has gone through half of her life without both her legs, and by
living her life on a trolley to move around on.The similarity between the two
that needs to be pointed out is not the lack of limbs or traumatizing
experiences, but rather the strength that the two possess that keeps them
living life with happiness and a sense of purpose. Jenny also looks at life
with a much more upbeat view after losing both legs, and says she sees no
reason to dwell in the past or let it weigh her down. She feels strongly about
helping others who have been through similar situations as she and also finds a
passion in motivating others to keep moving forward no matter what the outlook
may seem at the moment of tragedy. She, like Jason, has told people that her
main source of strength comes from her mother. Just after the loss of limbs,
Jenny was feeling sorry for herself and wallowing in self-pity, but had it not
been for mothers prodding and pushing her to move on in her life, she would not
be where she is today. Her outlook on life is simply one that is contagious and
will have you come away feeling happy and also grateful for what you have. Even
though Jenny has lost so much, she proves to everyone that life really is what
you choose to make it.
Written by
Nadiah Mohd Nasir
11 April 2015
Written by
Nadiah Mohd Nasir
11 April 2015
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