Mdm Tan has been with KDF for 3 years. She is 1 out of the 286 patients KDF is helping. Mdm Tan has chosen peritoneal dialysis as her preferred form of treatment as she has difficulty moving around. She is now living in a rented apartment because she had to sell her home when she could no longer afford to pay the flat’s installments.

Mdm Tan used to run a small business by renting out canteen stalls. However in 2003, Mdm Tan’s health condition deteriorated. She was constantly tired and sick to the extent that she could not attend to her business and had to sell it away. Not long after, she was diagnosed with kidney failure.

At first, Mdm Tan was able to maintain her optimism as she was still able to move around and take care of herself. With the dialysis treatments, she felt better and was able to carry out her daily activities.

Unfortunately, everything changed for Mdm Tan on a rainy day in 2005. In a rush to get her errands done before she was caught in the rain, Mdm Tan had slipped on the stairs near the market and took a nasty fall. She had hurt her leg badly. Despite her daughter’s pleads that she should see a doctor, she felt that the pain was still manageable and thus she did not seek treatment.

Her medical history of diabetes did not help in alleviating the condition of her leg injury. It had gotten worse day by day. When Mdm Tan finally checked in to the hospital, the condition of her leg had deteriorated so badly that there was nothing the doctor could. It was a choice between amputating her right leg or risking a fatal infection.

After worrying over it for a month and with her daughter’s encouragement and persuasion, she decided it was best to have the surgery done. But after the surgery, Mdm Tan felt awful as she was in deep pain and her self confidence also started to decrease.

The lack of funds for dialysis treatment, due to her being unable to work, made matters worse. All her savings were quickly dried up. She also felt the lost of her limb acutely. She believed that she was stigmatized and as her self esteem dropped, she avoided leaving her house.

In spite of the encouragement and support of everyone around her, Mdm Tan was very self conscious and felt uncomfortable going out. “People would always stare at my leg and talk about me. It makes me feel horrible. I will always regret not going to the doctor immediately after my fall,” Mdm Tan said.

Mdm Tan was often persuaded to try out her prosthetic leg so that she can move around more easily. But she would not listen, stating that it doesn’t feel right or that it was unsightly.

With her savings drained due to the costs of treatment for dialysis, Mdm Tan had to seek financial help. She was introduced to KDF that year and has been with us ever since. Mdm Tan lamented that it was very bad to fall sick as it had caused many difficulties in life, especially the financial toll on her.

As the years passed by, slowly but surely, the encouragements begin to get through to Mdm Tan. She eventually began to venture out of her home. Although it wasn’t very far or very often, she started to accept the loss of her limb. She said that being able to find the courage to leave her apartment once in awhile had made her feel much better.

Today, she is doing much better. Mdm Tan is going out more often and getting more cheerful. She is dealing with everything a lot better compared to when she first joined KDF. “A breath of fresh air does wonders,” Mdm Tan says with a small smile.

*Patient has requested not to disclose her real name.