Guest Contributor – Chew Hui Sing
Article submitted by Chew Hui Sing
Winning article for “A Chance To Bring Home Medicine Buddha — For Free!!”
18 January 2010 was a day when the life of my family changed within minutes – when we came so close to losing our dearest father and husband. It was a usual Monday morning when Daddy woke me up from bed to prepare for school. Minutes after he left my room, I heard a loud thud. I shouted out to Daddy but there was no response at all. Immediately, I rushed out of my room. What appeared before my eyes sent tears streaming down my face. My dearest Daddy was lying motionlessly in a pool of blood at the base of the stairs. His face swelled and blood was flowing out of his nose. I called the ambulance and sent him to hospital.
His Glasgow coma scale (GCS) was 3 (the lowest) upon arrival at the hospital. The CT scan done showed severe bleeding in his brain and multiple fractures in his face and cervical spine. The prognosis was extremely poor and we were told to be prepared for the worse. The decision by the neurosurgical team was for comfort care and it meant watching him go. Given such brain injury, the only treatment was to decompress the brain as soon as possible and drain out the blood before further pressure built up. The surgeons felt that given the severity of his injury on the scans and his clinical status, he would never make it through and that decompression might not help either. We were in such despair but we could never accept letting him go just like that. We kept praying and calling out to Daddy to show some response so that the doctor would grant him a chance. I appealed to Daddy not to forget his promise to watch me graduate. Fortunately, Daddy heard my pleas, teared and started moving his limbs. Seeing that, the surgeon made the decision to give Daddy a chance, quoting a less than 50 percent survival.
While Daddy was fighting for his life in the operating theatre, my sister and I rushed down to a Tibetan Buddhism Centre to pray and seek the monks’ assistance for pujas to be done for him. We chanted ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ and Medicine Buddha Mantra throughout his operation. Thankfully, his operation went on smoothly. He went through two further operations on his head within the same week.
He made small but gradual improvement during his prolonged hospital stay. One day, we were totally elated seeing him lifting up his fingers and another day we noted that he smile and laugh when we told him a joke. He underwent intensive rehabilitation and was finally discharged four months later. Though he was bedbound, on tube feeding, still couldn’t speak, we were glad he was able to respond by nodding or shaking his head. He was very cheerful and would laugh at any jokes that we cracked.
Unfortunately, the road ahead was a real emotional roller coaster for us. Just when we thought my daddy was recovering, a lot of complexities set in and throughout 2010, he was admitted to the hospital for six times and spent eight months there, going through multiple operations and surgeries. It was a time where one realized that there is just so much medical science can do. And it was through the prayers that gave us and him strength and healing power to overcome all the obstacles and create the miracles.
It didn’t help that his brothers brought a medium to our house during that time. He told us that Daddy would not be able to make it through. Fear was instilled in our hearts when he kept telling us to let go. Despite all these obstacles, our faith did not falter. We did not give up. We chanted by his bedside and told him to listen and chant in his heart with us daily. He was finally discharged in Dec 2010. Within months, he made dramatic gradual recovery, learnt to talk, fed himself with assistance and even learnt how to stand with assistance. That was the happiest period for my family.
Just when we feel that everything is going on smoothly, something will happen and we will be brought back to square one again. In 2011, we thought everything was going on well and we were even planning to take Daddy on a cruise, the misfortune landed on him again. Dad suddenly had fits in July and he was again in a critical condition. However, prayers once again saw us through that difficult period. Due to the prolonged hospital stay and multiple surgeries, Daddy was very deconditioned and drowsy. It has been 1.5 years since the first admission. Daddy is still bed bounded and is sleeping most of the times. He is unable to talk as he doesn’t have the strength to do so. He is back on tube feeding. Recently, my uncles came again and told us that we could not hold on to Daddy anymore. Though we were positive that my Daddy is protected by Buddha’s blessings, fear still crept its way into our minds and hearts.
Though we hate and felt painful to see my dad suffering, his strong resilience to survive keeps my whole family going. I really hope to invite the Medicine Buddha and invoke his blessings on my dad for his recovery. We earnestly pray to receive Tsem Rinpoche’s blessings as well. As a young doctor, I also hope that the Medicine Buddha will guide me to heal others in the course of my work.
With folded hands,
Chew Hui Sing
Celebrating father’s day in June 2010. A doting dedicated responsible father and husband to us and mum. Thank you for all your sacrifices and love for us all these while. We love you, daddy.
I am the youngest in the family. One of daddy’s greatest wish is to attend my graduation ceremony. It was a difficult time sitting through the final exams with daddy critically ill in hospital. The mental and physical stress from daddy’s health and exams. Living in fear and uncertainty every single minute. But i kept my promise to daddy that i will try my best and told him that he should keep to his promise, be there for me and watch me graduate from university. this is one of the things that i used to motivate him everyday during that critical period. We kept our promises. I passed my exams, and daddy made a miraculous recovery. He wasn’t able to attend my graduation ceremony as he was again hospitalised for chest infection during that time. But we never gave up. I brought him to studio for this graduation photo in sept 2010 when he was fit enough.
With cute cheerful daddy at dinner at changi airport singapore in June 2011. Dec 2010 to July 2011 was the period where he made dramatic recovery- started to talk, eat, feed himself, even stand and walk with 2 man assistance. We learnt how to transfer him into car, and bring him out whenever possible. This is one of the happiest period of time for our family.
Celebrating daddy’s birthday on 25 august 2012. We sincerely pray for a miraculous recover and hope that he will be more alert and be able to eat, speak and laugh again.
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Dear Hui Sing,
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on winning the blessed, holy statue for your daddy. You write very well and I could feel my nose turning sour and tears building up in my eyes while reading.. Through your story, I could tell that your bond and love with your daddy is a very strong one. And it is so unfortunate that your dad to go through all the surgeries and medication..
Like what Rinpoche said, the best gift we could give our loved ones would be the gift of Dharma. You’re so lucky to be able to meet the Dharma and I believe it helped in one way or another with your current situation. You’re very kind as well seeing how you’re pursuing medical and you have so much for your family.
May your daddy and your family be blessed and protected by the 3 Jewels always! All the best and stay strong! Take care.
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
Dear Chew Hui Sing, i hope you and your family and daddy is all well, may the Medicine Buddha relieve all the pain and suffering you going through… Om Mani Pedme Hum.
Thank you Hui Sing for sharing this touching story. It is not easy to have our love one falling sick especially taking care of them that required tremendous mental and physical strength. However, you are inspiring that you still bring Dharma to your dad and family during this difficult situation.
May Menlha blessed your dad, your family and you to remove the physical sufferings, to remove the cause of sufferings, as well as the imprints for all sufferings.
TAYATA OM BEKANZE BEKANZE MAHA BEKANZE BEKANZE RADZE SAMUDGATE SOHA!
Congratulations in winning the Medicine Buddha statue and winning the hearts of the readers. Your story has touched the hearts of many and has shown lots of love a daughter can give to a father. Your strength is inspiring and what you have went through as a family to support your father is unconditional. I am very sure that your father is very proud to have you by his side through thick and thin.
May Menlha bless your father to a speedy recovery. My prayers to him too. Om Mani Padme Hung!
This is an extremely touching story and it is amazing how you still strived and had faith in the Dharma and teachings despite all the suffering that was happening around you. The amount of love for your family is supernatural in a good way. There are not many people who are parts of families that have such faith when there is trouble happening. Hope you have a lovely life ahead of you!
Dear Hui Sing,
I must congratulate you for your courage and strength to go through your exams and graduated at the most critical time in your life, while your father was so ill. I can relate to this personally as I had the same experience with my father and my mother. They were at their death beds as I had to go through SRP and SPM. They unfortunately did not pull through. I am glad you and your father pulled through. This goes to show that the continuity of the mind exist and reincarnation hence he could hear you and come back for a second chance.
I think during such critical moments, one must always remain positive and be strong for those around them, your mother and your sisters. For your father, happy, positive thoughts and feelings should always surround him and I am sure knowing that you have graduated gave him much happiness. I am happy Medicine Buddha will be on his way to bless him and your entire family! How fortunate you and your family are to have stumble upon Dharma 🙂 Stay strong!
Its really beautiful that, through it all your family stuck together with love,care and patience. It has been indeed an incredibly difficult journey for you and your family but the love and faith in the buddha has kept it going. I really do hope your father makes full recovery very soon. I was really touched by the promises made and that they were kept, it was beautiful to hear that your father made it to your graduation.
May Medicine Buddha bring lots of blessings upon you, your family and especially your father. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Dear Hui Sing,
You have a great loving and caring heart. I am sure your father will be blessed by Medicine Buddha in a larger scale with speedy recovery. May you and your family members receive many blessings and teachings from our Guru, Tsem Rinpoche.
Dear Hui Sing
Thank you for sharing something so personal with us. It is so touching and it showed how much you love your father and the bond you have with him. It is a difficult and tough times for your family having to go through what your father experienced.
Prayers are very powerful and with the support of the whole family it helped your father get through those difficult times. In situation like this, we truly need divine help and mental strength. Your father is a fighter and he made it through your graduation.
I pray that the Medicine Buddha you are receiving will give your father and your family tremendous blessings and your father a speedy recovery. May you be blessed by Medicine Buddha for your work as a doctor to help those in need. May you have the same good motivation to heal those who are sick with love and compassion as you had for your father. My best wishes to you and your family.
Dear Hui Sing,
Thank you for sharing this story. Goodness, your dad has really gone through a lot and I am sure that his strength comes from your prayers and love. It is very touching to read about your care for your father and i know that the Medicine Buddha will bless him not just in this life but also future lives. The Medicine Buddha will also bless those who you help as a doctor and you can also do the Medicine Buddha practice here http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/sadhana-prayers.html#18
What Rinpoche also taught us is that we can dedicate merits to our loved ones, and through Rinpoche’s kindness, we can do this easily via:
– Offerings of monks’ robes
http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/new-offering-of-monk-robes.html
or
– Offerings to monks’ welfare and education
http://www.buddhas-space.com/post/41186316164
or
– Butterlamp offerings
http://vajrasecrets.com/offerings-sponsorship/offerings/lamps-for-life.html
or
– A Slice of Heaven
http://vajrasecrets.com/offerings-sponsorship/offerings/slice-of-heaven.html
These are great opportunities to benefit our loved ones which will bring them permanent benefits according to Lord Buddha because when we support the Sangha, we would gain many merits. This is because the Sangha has devoted their lives to the Dharma and ensure that the Buddha’s teachings endure.
All best wishes to your father’s happiness and health.
It is really touching that Hui Sing’s father is so strong, pulling through everything together with her family members. I am really glad for Hui Sing that her family is so tightly bonded, encouraging each other during the ups and downs of the family. Thank you Hui Sing for sharing with all of us something that is so personal to both you and your family members. I pray for speedy recovery for your father.
Dear Hui Sing,
Thank you for your sharing. No doubt it is a very testing time for you and the family and to some extent I empathize with how you feel, for I too, have been through a similar situation with my own father. At that time I was not a practicing Buddhist and in fact knew very little about how I can help him. Therefore it was a roller-coaster ride to see him recovering one minute and then sliding off the next. It was difficult to know how we should prepare ourselves. If I could turn back time, I would do all I can to help him purify his karma so that he may live longer and when he does pass, that he will have great imprints of the Three Jewels such that he will easily reconnect with the Dharma again. We live many lives and there is joy knowing that our loved ones will come easily under the refuge of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha wherever they are.
Therefore I am very happy that at this difficult hour, you are doing the best thing you can do, which is to ask for the blessings of the Buddha and to create the merits to dedicate to him. Your aspirations to have the Medicine Buddha to bless your father alone is cause for good merits. Similarly your believe in Tsem Rinpoche and Rinpoche’s blessings. In addition your wish to be a good doctor so that you can help many is also a blessing that is derived from a less than perfect situation. From seeing your father’s suffering and by acknowledging what turmoil the families of sick people undergo, you develop compassion for all which you bring to your work. In this sense, even as he is ill, your father is endowing you with tremendously good values. That too is meritorious.
May the Buddhas also bless your sisters and your mother and this must be extremely hard for your mother as it is for you all. And if this experience draws your mother and sisters closer to the Dharma, then your father’s sickness has created a lot of good, if you understand what I mean. I think your dad must be a great man in his own right and I see that in your words, your love for him and the way he draws everyone closer to the Dharma even now.
Mat Menlha not only bless your father, may he be one with the Buddhas in time to come. May you be a great doctor that never forgets the importance of compassion and may you go only to heal those whose wounds we can see as well those whose wounds are invisible.
Thank you for your writing and my very best to you all.
Thanks Martin. I used to empathise with people who have to care for their sick parents but it’s really a different experience going through it ourselves. I encouraged Huising to write in as I felt that the medicine Buddha will not only bless my dad but also guide her in her practice as a doctor. It’s my wish to connect her to the dharma and I also hope that she does her job with a good motivation for others.
Hi, Hui Sing
As we both share some similarities, I can understand your pain and anguish. For someone as young as you, I salute you for your strength, maturity, courage and faith. Your love for your Daddy is so pure and sincere. I hope that you and your family will be blessed by the beautiful Medicine Buddha.
Given what you have gone through with your father, I think you will be a great doctor. All the best and may all be well with you and your family.
Dear Hui Sing,
Such a touching and loving writeup. Shows how all of you love your father and vice versa. I understand how you feel going thru the pain of watching your father being in pain and unable to do much. Both my uncles had something similar. They were both healthy one day and the next thing I know, they were both in coma (different year) and woke up with no recollection of their life. Helpless and not knowing what to do back then. How fortunate are you to have the connection to the Buddhas and in return benefitted your dad. I do hope that the Medicine Buddha with Rinpoche’s Blessings will bless your dad in many ways! Love and prayers for your dad and your family…
Dear Hui Sing,
Thank you for sharing your touching story. You have a happy family, care and love each other, this is a great example to inspire others. May Medicine Buddha always blessing your father and recover swiftly.
Dear Hui Sing,
Thank You for sharing such a touching story. I’m so happy to see that all of you are together now. I believe that ‘love’ was the only thing that kept you daddy going, he really loves all of you. May your dad recover soon and may he live a healthy life!
Love, beatrix.
When such tragedy strikes, it is never easy to deal with it and especially when it is with someone so dear to us. I am fortunate to not have such an incident happen to me yet but I can only image the trauma and fear of being in constant state of worry and apprehension of the worse. You must care for your father a lot and appreciate all that he has done for you and your family.
It is hard not to give up but you have proven that love overcomes all fears. I am sure that whether he lives or carries on, you and your family would have the mental strength to carry on. I admire your strength in dealing with such matters and your sincere honesty in telling it so that your father will get a great blessing. I pray that he recovers very quickly if he is meant to be. May Medicine Buddha bless your father and your whole family.
It is beautiful to see the compassion you and your family have for your father, and vice versa. You are going to be a wonderful doctor and help to heal many people. Prayers to you and your dad and the rest of your family. _/|\_
Thanks Hui Ching’s sharing. from the write up, i can felt that this is really a difficult journey to the family.especially few time when other relative give different view, luckily Hui Ching and family have strong faith to the buddha and miracles keep appear for her father. Sincerely wishing that your father can recover soon with blessing of Rinpoche and medicine Buddha.
Thank you Ms Chew for sharing you family story with us.We hope for your father speedy recovery.With the strong family bond and your strong faith in the Buddha,Your prayers would be answered as you never give up!
May the Medicine Buddha blessed by Rinpoche bring speedy recovery to your kind and loving father!
Thank you Rinpoche.
Hui Sing,
Your story makes me want to tear and I thank you for sharing something so personal. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been over the last few years for you and your family. I agree with you that the power of prayer, hope and your own strength would have been absolutely key to helping your father get through so many of those difficult times. There are miracles around us and within us, and you have shown just how powerful those miracles can be when there is simply love, care and deep compassion.
I am so happy that your father was able to see you through your graduation and also go for a beautiful photo at the studio. I understand how tough it must have been for you to study through those months when you had so much going on back at home – so bravo and congratulations to you too for being so determined, so strong and for never giving up. Thank you for showing us all this perfect example of love and true service to our parents.
Lastly, I’m so very glad that Medicine Buddha will be coming to your home soon and yes, he will definitely bring tremendous blessings not just to your father but to all of you. Do recite his mantra too if you can, it is extremely powerful and brings a lot of healing and peace to all who hear it or to anyone that you dedicate the prayers to. TATATHA OM BEKANZE BEKANZE MAHA BEKANZE BEKANZE RAJA SAMUGATE YE SOHA
My prayers and many infinite best wishes to you and family.
Dear Paris, thank you for your kind words, encouragements n well wishes. I knew that sickness n death r painful experiences for the patients and families. Esp when unexpected. But I never knew that it wld be that heart breaking and painful till it happened to Someone I hold so closely to my heart.. Never knew that uncertainties n fears can be so paralyzing. Finally Learning to appreciate ppl and things I used to take for granted. Learning how to love and give, instead of always being on the receiving end.
I have been a perfectionist and go getter all these yrs, seeking “success” and working hard achieving almost most of the goals I set for. Only to realise that I ve neglected Many other more impt things In life. My life used to be all abt me, me n me. But my life now centers ard my daddy. I feel that the greatest blessing in my life is being my dad’s and mum’s daughter. They taught me abt the beauty of unconditional love n sacrifice n gave me a beautiful life. I sincerely pray for daddy’s speedy recovery. We will nvr give up, and ll love and care for him till the very end. May medicine Buddha blesses. TATATHA OM BEKANZE BEKANZE MAHA BEKANZE BEKANZE RAJA SAMUGATE YE SOHA
What an amazing show of strength and faith in the Buddha during your family’s difficult journey in life. Where some familes fall apart under this conditions, I see only strong bond within your family. May Rinpoche and Menhla’s blessings bring happiness to your family. May u be blessed too in your work of helping your patients with their illness n sufferings. Tayatha Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Bekanze Ranza Samugatha Soha!
Thanks sofi. Everything that has happened in fact brought us closer together. I pray daily for buddha’s guidance to have the wisdom to fulfil all my roles n responsibilities in life well. May u be blessed with happiness n good health too 🙂
Dear Hui Sing,
Thank you for sharing your story here. You have a great loving family. Yes, I guess medicine science can only go so far, there are many things in our lives that are inexplainable by science.
I trust that your family love towards your father is one of the key things that keep your father motivated all the time. I am glad that you know some mantras and you are comfortable in doing prayers.
May your prayers be heard by the Buddhas and that your father will feel get well soon.
Thanks Sheryl 🙂 Dad was very much like a innocent lovely little child during the period of dramatic recovery where he learnt to walk n talk. He Laughed at jokes n threw tantrums at times. Angry at one moment n laugh the next when we crack a joke. No worries abt the past or future. His memories were erased backwards. everything he remembered then was all from the distant past. He Thought I was still 15 n he was still in his forties. However, There was once during his more lucid moment in June 2011 that he actually told me ” u all love me so much, how can I bear to leave u”. On Hearing that, I broke into tears. Immediately aft saying that, he reverted back to his “kid like” self, seemingly unaware of what was said n what had happened. I do see many critical cases which showed that pt’ will power to fight on is one of the most impt factor determining their prognosis n survival. N this will power is largely dependent on family n spiritual support. Once the will power is gone, medical treatment alone is Often futile.
It is indeed a very tough journey for your whole family. It is through continuous faith and determination to stay strong together. May this medicine buddha help your dad to road to full and complete recovery:)
Giving thanks to Tsem Rinpoche for his kindness to help the Chew family!
Really touched to see your whole family stay together and still have utmost faith despite the difficulties and obstacles you faced. I pray that Medicine Buddha and Tsem Rinpoche’s blessings will aid in your dad’s speedy recovery. Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for his compassion and kindness in organizing such meaningful activity.
With folded hands,
Jolyn
Thanks jolyn
Really happy to see this writeup contributed by my sister. It’s has been a really tough journey. I hope she gets to know more about rinpoche and his teachings and learn to always hold a good motivation to heal others with the same love and compassion we have for our dad.
[…] 6. Chew Hui Sing – http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/guest-contributors/guest-contributor-chew-hui-sing.htm… […]