A few days before the Hari Raya holidays, a junior of mine, Siao Jean, traveled home to Ipoh with her sister, Siao Hooi and Mr. Yong, a UMT Department of Marine Science lecturer. They began their journey home at about 2 pm in Mr. Yong’s car. They were enjoying the ride home, sharing lots of jokes, discussions about water quality (this must be Mr. Yong’s idea), plans for a back-packing trip to Taiwan, and being excited about their up-coming stop at the Cameron Highlands for a steamboat dinner and a cuppa Starbucks.

At about 6 pm, it started to rain. They were just another 30 minutes to Cameron Highlands. But all of a sudden, CRASH. BOOM. BANG. Siao Hooi managed to escape unhurt, while Mr. Yong sustained some minor injuries at the back of his head and on his right hand.

Siao Jean, however, was not as lucky. The windscreen crashed, and Siao Jean, who was driving the car, was stuck between the steering wheel and the seat.

A good Samaritan sent the three of them to the nearest hospital in Tanah Rata and upon arrival at the hospital, Siao Hooi was told to be prepared because Siao Jean was in a very critical condition. They were then taken to the Ipoh General Hospital in an ambulance.

It is now almost a week since the accident, and Siao Jean is still unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit. She had undergone a surgery to her left eye, and there is a blood clot in her brain. She has bone fractures on her face, as well as on her ribs. And also lung injury. The good news is, Siao Jean is able to respond by moving her fingers whenever her family members and friends talk to her.

Mr. Yong was transfered to another hospital and he is not contactable at the moment.

It doesn’t matter whether you know any of them. But I’d like to appeal to you to pray for the three of them. Please pray that Mr. Yong will be alright soon, and that Siao Hooi will stand strong in the midst of the uncertainties. Most importantly, please pray for Siao Jean to be strong enough to pull this through. She has to wake up. There’s no other way.

Left to right: Siao Hooi, Mr. Yong and Siao Jean.
Please pray that they will be able to smile together again.
Story and picture nicked from Siao Hooi’s Facebook.

Updates (Sept 21st):

• Mr. Yong was transfered to Hospital Fatimah on Friday, operated on Saturday and he will be discharged soonest by tomorrow afternoon (Sept 22nd). I called the hospital and the nurse on duty was so kind to allow me to speak to Mr. Yong’s sister, so we chit-chatted for a few minutes. I asked if I could speak to Mr. Yong, and she gave me her phone number so that I could call her handphone and speak to Mr. Yong :)
• Siao Jean woke up, and she could talk a bit! :)

Updates (Sept 22nd):

• Siao Jean is still in the Intensive Care Unit, and she is now able to breathe on her own. Her right eye is bandaged, and her left eye is swollen. She’s got broken ribs and multiple fractures on her shoulder, one hand and face. However, her limbs are fine.
• There is still blood clot in her brain.
• Please continue to pray so that our dear girl will be strong. She needs our prayers and well wishes.

Updates (Sept 30th):

• Siao Jean has been transferred to a private hospital in Ipoh. According to Siao Jean’s friend who was in Ipoh for a week, the environment at the private hospital is very much better compared to the General Hospital, and this is very important for Siao Jean’s as she needs a lot of undisturbed rest.
• The blood clot in her brain is shrinking! :)
• Please continue to pray for our dear girl. Thank you.

Updates (Oct 7th):

• My sister and I visited Siao Jean at the hospital on Oct 3rd. She is now warded at the High Dependency Unit. She has had a plastic surgery (according to Siao Jean’s aunt, Felicia) and she looked very much like herself already.
• She had also undergone an operation to her left eye, but she can see with her right eye at the moment.
• She is on glucose drips and gets a bottle of Yakult daily :)
• Please continue to pray for her. Thank you.

Updates (Oct 8th):

• Siao Jean’s friend-cum-housemate informed me that Siao Jean could finish a bowl of porridge by herself already! :)
• She should be discharged from the hospital soon so that she could rest at home.
• Thank you for your prayers.