I had a very life changing experience eversince I get to know a 20-year-old girl who has a rare disease called Neurofibromatosis Type 2. This rare and incurable genetic disorder causes tumors to grow in her brain, spine and along peripheral nerves. Three major surgeries have passed since the diagnosis four years ago, but many tumors in her body still needs to be removed. The tumors damage randoms nerves as they grow.
I decided to meet up with her in person last Saturday. And my perception of life has never been the same eversince! Despite the fact that some of the tumors have made her deaf on both ears, she has no self-pity. She is humble, but yet confident. She made me realise that life could be so difficult for some of us, but she won't spend her days complaining about what she is missing out as a 20-year old girl.
Having just spent about 30 minutes with her, communicated with her by typing on her laptop as she couldn't hear my voice, I was truly inspired. That day, I never look at my life the same way as I used to be. I stopped complaining about all the trivial things about my life. I am so lucky compared to her, but I so much weaker than her! I am much older than her, but she is much more matured that me.
My new-found friend, Yvonne Foong, with the help of her friends and family members, is organizing a fundraising rock concert for her surgery to remove a tumor in her brain. The concert, dubbed ROCK4HOPE, will see rock bands "A Day at The Zoo" and the acclaimed "Deja Voodoo Spells" performs songs from their respective albums at the multi-purpose hall of Sunway University College on 9th September 2006, 7.30pm onwards. More information is available at www.yvonnefoong.com/rock4hope.
Quoting Yvonne, "The more people supporting the concert, the sooner I can go for the surgery".
Thank you, Yvonne for being such an inspiration to me. And I sincerely hope that you will be able to hear again soon!
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Thanks, it is definitely a worthwhile cause. I hope to see you there to support too!
I am about a decade older than these college students, and am truly embarassed by myself upon seeing these teenagers putting their heads (and energy) together to raise funds for charity. It's sad to see people like myself, dressed up in nicely-ironed shirt with ties, a 9 to 5 job in the air-conditioned office, but refusing to do our part to make a difference in some else's life. For most of us - middle income working professionals - life is just about ourselves only. Truly embarassing..
See you there! Remember ROCK4HOPE. There's Hope everywhere when you are willing to play your part.