Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Parkinson's Surferers Got Hope
Shaking off illness for daughters' sakes
Housewife and mother of two, Madam Tan (main image), 48, has suffered from Parkinson's disease for 11 years.
Plagued with shortness of breath, insomnia and uncontrollable whole body tremors even when lying down, Madam Tan opted for Activa Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in September last year.
What prompted her to undergo the therapy, however, was not the aforementioned symptoms or the fact that she no longer responded well to her medication. Rather, it was the desire to see her elder daughter get married and to relieve her younger daughter, Ms Snow Ang, of the burden of being her full-time carer.
When her mother's illness progressed to the stage of full dependency, Ms Ang quit her job as a kitchen hand at a local cafe to be at her mother's side.
Since the surgery, Madam Tan has been able to regain most of her motor functions though she still experiences slight tremors in her hands and legs.
She can now, however, enjoy a game of mahjong, play computer games, do light household chores and even knit shawls, scarves and pouches for her family and friends.
She is still dependent on medication but no longer needs as much.
'I used to take medication seven or eight times a day, now I do so less often,' she said.
Life has even changed for her daughter and full-time carer. Since the surgery, Ms Ang has been able to return to school to pursue her passion - music. She is currently studying at a local performing arts academy and hopes to become a singer or composer one day.
Margaret Lee
Picture by Mind Your Body, StraitsTimes
Labels: parkinson
