| Tuck Chong is a quadriplegic. which literately mean paralyzed in all 4 limbs. He got his injury in 1990 when he was still a sailor. After a night out drinking with his friends, he fell off the escalator at the MRT station. That left him confined to the wheelchair permanently. Even though he could use his shoulder, arm and wrist, he had very limited control over his fingers. He pushes the wheelchair by rubbing the bony part of his palm on the outer ring of the wheel. he could feed himself but needs the wife to bathe him and clear bowel. In 1996, he went for a tendon transplant which enables him to have a better grip and control of his finger. Tuck Chong had always liked to paint but because of family commitment, he had to put his love aside. But now with time on his hand, he decided to pick up painting again. It was not easy but with perseverance sand determination, he was able to overcome all difficulties. It became his hobby. So far he has more then a dozen of painting at his 4-roomed flat in Jurong West. With his wife staying at home to take care of him and the daughter going into polytechnic, his hopes to turn his hobby into something more practical, to earn some money.
After showering every morning, he would go to the void deck to see his friends and talk about everything under the sun. Then he goes home to have lunch, followed by 2 hours of painting session with a 15 minutes break in-between. Tuck Chong likes nothing better then to go to handicaps Welfare Association every wed for therapy, to meet up with friends and have a hearty meal together. |
