IPCA 2024 - Lee Kin Hian

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After 27 years as an aircraft technician, I happily retired in 2018. My retirement days were filled with volunteering at a nursing home, taking self-improvement courses, and karaoke sessions. I was intentional about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and even explored different hiking trails all over Singapore.

However, one morning in August 2023, I woke up feeling numb on my left side. I paid no heed to it, thinking that it might pass along the day. However, the numbness got worse as the day progressed. I heeded my doctor's advice to get it checked at the hospital; I was diagnosed to have suffered from a stroke and was hospitalised immediately at the Sengkang General Hospital (SKH).

My symptoms worsened the next day. The left side of my upper body was weak – my arm could only hang limply at my side and my sense of balance was affected. The days that followed were clouded by feelings of despair and disbelief. How could this be happening to me when I had been keeping an active lifestyle? A fellow patient in the same ward who was also suffering from stroke noticed my despondent state. He reassured me that I would recover if I committed to my physiotherapy sessions, no matter how difficult they seemed.

Determined to get back on my feet and live an independent lifestyle, I resolved to accept my condition and focus on my journey towards recovery. I persevered with my rehabilitation sessions four times a day, each lasting an hour. The exercises were gruelling and painful, and I was mentally and physically exhausted. I clung on to my belief that 'God helps those who help themselves' and soldiered on with my therapy, even on weekends. With my physiotherapists' encouragement and guidance, I made improvements, which gave me hope and fuelled my determination to achieve a full recovery.

During my hospital stay, my wife and church friends visited me frequently to keep my spirits up. Thanks to their warm support, I made good progress in my recovery journey. I was discharged from SKH and transitioned to Sengkang Community Hospital (SKCH) for continued care.

At SKCH, I met a patient who was feeling discouraged and unwilling to go for his rehabilitation sessions. I recognised in him the same sense of despondency that I had felt before and motivated him in the same way that the patient in my ward had done for me. I reassured him that he was not alone in this journey; if I could make progress, he could achieve that as well. To facilitate my recovery, I adhered strictly to consuming meals provided by the hospital and refrained from eating outside food. I encouraged the other patients in my ward to do the same, as the hospital food is tailored to meet our nutritional needs in our current state of health.

Today, my left arm has regained strength, and I am able to lift my arm independently. To stay active, I walk approximately 1 kilometre every day. I also spend several days a week at Allkin Active Ageing Centre to take part in exercises and activities.

Besides that, I aim to volunteer my time at SKCH to share my recovery journey with other stroke patients to encourage them when needed. To all patients, I would like to say: Never give up. There is hope!


"Despite the pain, fatigue and difficulties Kin Hian faced during rehabilitation, he never once complained or entertained the thought of giving up."

Amy Chan and Caral Goh
Wellbeing Coordinators, Social Prescribing
Office of Community Engagement and Education
Sengkang Community Hospital