Parents of a daughter suffering from ALS
Introduction
(Singapore, 2nd) After graduating from studying abroad, her beloved daughter was diagnosed with ALS and was paralyzed for a year. Her parents were unwilling to let her daughter "stay" in the hospital for the rest of her life. They took her home and cared for her 24 hours for more than eight years of her life.
Since high school, Zeng Huiyi (32 years old) has studied in Canada. After graduating from university, she continued to study for another year to obtain a professional diploma and stayed there to become a social worker.
In 2014, at the age of 24, she felt unwell and then developed into dysphagia, weak voice, and muscle weakness. She lost 15 kilograms within a year and was later diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly known as ALS), an incurable disease.
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"However, my daughter is more optimistic and has never complained to us. She actively cooperated with the treatment, and we did our best to take care of her."
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Madam Guo Luen (62 years old housewife) told the reporter that the whole family was shocked and saddened when they learned that her daughter was ill. She flew to Canada to accompany her daughter for three months and consulted a doctor after returning to Singapore, yet she still can't change reality.
"However, my daughter is more optimistic and has never complained to us. She actively cooperated with the treatment, and we did our best to take care of her."
After returning to Singapore, the parents chose to take her home and take care of her because they did not want their daughter to "lie" in the hospital for the rest of her life.
"My daughter was able to live unassisted at first, but soon she was unable to breathe and eat on her own, and she also lost her ability to express herself. She had to rely on a ventilator and intubation to eat and was paralyzed in bed. "
Parents never give up
To take good care of her daughter, the family purchased equipment such as a ventilator, oxygen machine, expectoration machine, and hospital bed, converting the room into an intensive care unit.
Since they had to take care of the other two daughters, Guo Luen and her husband took turns taking care of their daughters with the maid's help. They had to pay attention to their daughter's condition almost every 15 minutes and would get up to check when the machine alarms went off.
"Although my daughter has lost her mobility, her mental and intellectual abilities are still active. We often take her to the movies, for meals and walks when she is in good condition, but we have to bring several assistive devices when we go out, and we also have to use a hoist to lift her when getting out of bed and required three people to complete."
The perseverance of her parents gave Zeng Huiyi the best care, but as time passed, her health deteriorated, and she passed away at home on March 16, 2022.
(Original post is from Shin Min Daily New: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20220402-1258640)