Born in a family of ten children, 58 year-old Mr. Wang Tah Teng, does not expect his life to be a bed of roses. With seven younger siblings in the family and minimum education, Mr. Wang started working as a coffeeshop assistant in his early 20s. In his younger days, he drank heavily and paid little attention to his diet and health. As a result, he suffered from hypertension. Even then, Mr. Wang often skipped his medication, as he was afraid of taking medicine.
Early 1996, Mr. Wang went for a hospital check-up for a lung-related condition and it was then that he was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Doctors attributed it to hypertension. At that time, Mr. Wang felt very sad and worried, often wondering why he had to suffer from kidney failure. There was no indication of his illness prior to the diagnosis, except for the occasional swelling of his leg. As his condition was potentially life-threatening, he was advised by his doctor to start dialysis as soon as possible if he wanted to live.
Six months after the doctor’s diagnosis, Mr. Wang commenced dialysis at the Singapore General Hospital. Shortly after, he was referred to the newly-founded KDF where he was able to continue dialysis at a subsidized rate. However, being unemployed at that time, he relied heavily on his insurance payout, which was depleted rapidly. Estranged from most of his siblings, Mr. Wang considers his youngest sister his greatest support. Speaking affectionately of her, he describes how his sister helped him to get through the tough times back then. “She gave me a lot of support and encouragement, often helping me with my dialysis fees and living expenses. She is really very good”, he added softly.
Today, the independent Mr. Wang, who lives alone in a rented 1-room flat, has adapted well to dialysis treatment and is living a self-sufficient life despite his illness. While his monthly salary of $500 as a coffeeshop assistant barely covers his dialysis fees and living expenses, he is grateful to KDF as his dialysis fees are heavily subsidized. Like many other patients at KDF, Mr. Wang is currently under the Erythropoietin (EPO) Injection Subsidy Programme, a subsidized medication programme that was introduced by KDF in December 1998 to help alleviate the problems associated with anaemia in patients. Under this programme, Mr. Wang pays $4 for an injection that typically costs $28 per shot, thus greatly lightening the burden on his finances.
Recalling his experience with KDF over the past 15 years, Mr. Wang notes that KDF has continued to live up to its mission, and the service standards have remained consistent throughout. “The nurses here are very nice and the environment is good” he remarked. In 2004, Mr. Wang was offered a transfer to the then newly-opened KDF San Wang Wu Ti Centre at Kreta Ayer Road, and has been with the centre ever since. Previously undergoing dialysis at the KDF Alexandra Centre which ceased operations in June 2005, the transfer was a move welcomed by Mr. Wang as the new location is near his place and hence he is able to cut down on his travel expenses. When asked if he has ever thought of changing to another organization for his dialysis, the soft-spoken man said no, without any hesitation. ‘KDF is very good’, was his reply. Indeed, the simplest of words often reflect the deepest of sentiments.
Contrary to what others may feel, Mr. Wang does not find dialysis to be a chore or hardship. Instead, he is grateful for the chance to undergo dialysis as it gives him the feeling of being a healthy man once again, enabling him to get on with his work and daily routine. ‘I feel very comfortable after each session’, said Mr. Wang. Having gone through the same process for the past 15 years, he has long gotten used to having dialysis and no longer feels any major discomfort, except for some pain when needling. Ever optimistic, Mr. Wang feels lucky that he does not suffer from any other known health problems, except hypertension which is currently under control with medication.
Even though he has accepted his situation, Mr. Wang yearns to lead a healthy and normal life. About 2 to 3 years back, he had a chance to receive a kidney transplant but was later found to be unsuitable. Instead of feeling disappointed, Mr. Wang accepted the outcome without complaints. He recounted the case of one of his friends from KDF, who had a successful transplant but passed away after an infection during an overseas trip to China. Despite this, Mr. Wang still harbours hopes of getting a transplant. ‘If there is no chance for a transplant, I’ll just continue dialysis. I leave it all to fate’, he said matter-of-factly.
As positive as he may seem, Mr. Wang’s uncertainties showed up when asked about his hopes for the future. While he is still able to make ends meet with his current salary and the occasional help from his sister, Mr. Wang has no savings. With inflation and the rising costs of living, he worries about the future. ‘I don’t dare to think about it. I’ll just take one day at a time.’
Even so, the thought of giving up on life has never crossed the resilient Mr. Wang’s mind. He is especially thankful to his sister and KDF for the help and support rendered over the years. To others like him, Mr. Wang has this to say ‘Don’t think too much, just take a day at a time’.
Beneath Mr. Wang’s quiet exterior lies a man whose courage and love for life far exceeds his uncertainties about the future. For all his tenacity, this silent fighter truly deserves respect.