Wednesday, February 15, 2006
today newpaper got a nice article..gona type it here..its long..but nice..read if interested.
-----------------------------
Part 1- introduction.
His heart transplant added 14 years to his life- and what wonderful years they turned out to be.
The change of heart changed the man.
The pre-heart transplant Samyval Tarasamy was often stressed with work. he was hot-tempered, demanding of his wife and firm with his children.
he was not just a typical hardworking husband and father
he was determined to more than provide for his family, doing heavy menial work at then-public utilities board (PUB)
then his heart began to fail him
but he wouldnt let it slow him down. he kept it from his family and friends and continued to slog away.
but doctors gave him the shocking news: he had only 6 months to live. he was only 49 then
Part 2 - Life-Giving Miracle
then a miracle happened.he had a heart transplant.
but not only was his physical body resurrected by the new heart, but Mr Samyval also had a change of heart about the way he lived his life.
he began to relax, to savour his life instead of hurrying through it.
with help from his employers, he represented singapore @ the world transplant games.
he began to love his family more, watch his children grow up and became a doting grandfather.
describing myself as "grouchy and suicidal", mr Samyval had told the straits times in 2002:"when i learnt about the donor heart,i just cried."
discharged about 2 weeks later, he put his hand to his chest and told himself:"i will treasure my new heart"
but singapore 6th heart transplant patient died lasat month @ 63
last week, in an interview with the new paper, his wife, mrs Letchimi,57, described him as a "typical Indian man" who was sometimes hot tempered before the operation.
the couple lived @ bukit batok masionette with their daughter and son in law
mr Samyval was a father with strict family rules. he was a husband with strict relationship rules
the couple must never disagree in front of his children
he made it a point to discuss matters with his wife after they had gone to bed
but that was before the transplant
years on, the grandfather looked forward to family gatherings and to tease his 3 grandchildren.
as a retiree @ 62, he also helped his wife of 40 years peel onions and vegetables.
but even then, some things didnt change.
he never said "i love u" to his wife or held her hand in public.
"no,no,no" mrs letchimi blushed to that suggestion, putting her hands to her cheek
"but he needed me to be with him wherever he went- and i followed. i have depended emotionally on him since the day we got married"
beside urging his wife to take part in charities walks with him, he also went to Budapest in Hungary for the 12th world transplant games in 1999.
Part 3- turning point
mr Samyval's life changed in 1991
doctor gave him 6 months to livev-only 16% of his heart was functioning.
he was diagnosed with heart failure
he used to have bad coughs, chest pains and body aches. he was often irritable.
but as the family sole breadwinner, he turned up @ work daily, even taking on additional shifts so that his wife and 3 children, then 23,17 and 13, would not sense that anything was amiss
all despite the fact that his heart was failing
then, within 6 weeks of being put on the waiting list, a late christmas present arrived.
a nurse rang his home and told his wife that a suitable heart donor had been found- a 31 year old chinese man who had died after falling from a tall building
the donor's heart was removed @ the NUH and rushed to the SGH for transplant, which took place on 27 dec
mr Samyval returned regularly to the national heart center(NHC) for cardiac-rehabilitation exercies.
the avid sport participant exercised daily, often cycling around his neighbourhood
to his 31 year old teacher daughter, ms vijaya, he was a "resilient man who never complained about his illness or blue black marks whenever he was discharged from the hospital"
he often had to return to hospital during those 14 years because of complications arising from his heart transplant
but throughout all his hospital stays, mr Samyval was the perfect patient.
even though he had tubes in both hands and both legs, he had the strength to look up from his hospital bed to see who was coming to visit.
and love was strong between him and his wife even though bedridden
nurses who tried to change his diaper would hear him joking bout waiting for his 'girlfriend' to perform the task instead.
recalling with a smile, mrs letchimi said:" nurses would joke, mrs Samyval, your husband is waiting for his girlfriuend to come"
then, on 19 jan this year, mr Samyval did not wake up for his usual morning walk
he refused to leave his room for breakfast. so mrs letchimi took breakfast into the room and they ate together, but he grew faint
a cardiometer reading showed his pulse had dropped drastically and he was immediately rushed to hospital
despite about of shingles last november, she didnt think her husband's condition was taking a turn for the worse
she said:" whenever he goes to ICU, he comes back. there were complications, but it was normal for us to go to the hospital
"the doctors there were good, they'd give him treatment and he would come back"
4 days later, mr Samyval became semi-conscious
he stopped talking, but still managed to ask for water.
said mrs vijaya:" he did everything the doctor told him to do. we have no regrets because the 14 years has given us time to repay everything he has done for us"
he died on 23 jan, following a massive heart attack
"i think he had left with us alot of his strenth," she added
it was a gift his wife and family can keep forever.
Part 4
she held his hand, knelt beside him and whispered into his ear:" im your wife here"
he was unable to speak, but teardrop rolled down his cheek.
he was still trying to live
then his children whispered:" its okay to go ,dad"
soon, he passed away
it was the family's love that kept mr Samyval tarasamy going - especially the love of his wife
last week, when the newpaper met mrs letchimi at her husband's prayers,16 days afther his death, she did not shed a tear.
she admitted she was feeling lonely. but when we visited her home last thursday, she gave us smiles and shared her recipe for love
she said:"i used to nurse him like he was a child"
a housewife for 25 years when mr Samyval received a new heart, she took on her 1st job as a pantry maid because it was her time to provide.
she also cooked 2 meals- 1 for her children, the other for her husband, spicing up his bland, healthy diet with ideas from cookbooks.
speaking of her arranged marriage, she held an old black and white photo of mr Samyval when he was 23 and said:"i was 17 and my uncle showed me this. i thought to myself,' such a good looking man for me?' "
said ms vijaya of her mother:" she doesnt realise how strong she was because she was emotionally supporting him."
the quiet woman felt it was normal to serve her husband simply because "he needs all that, and whateever he wants i'll do it for him"
"from the day we married, i was emotionally dependent on him.now, whatever i feel, i have no 1 to discuss with..i should learn to be independent, i thinkk"
-----------------------------
Part 1- introduction.
His heart transplant added 14 years to his life- and what wonderful years they turned out to be.
The change of heart changed the man.
The pre-heart transplant Samyval Tarasamy was often stressed with work. he was hot-tempered, demanding of his wife and firm with his children.
he was not just a typical hardworking husband and father
he was determined to more than provide for his family, doing heavy menial work at then-public utilities board (PUB)
then his heart began to fail him
but he wouldnt let it slow him down. he kept it from his family and friends and continued to slog away.
but doctors gave him the shocking news: he had only 6 months to live. he was only 49 then
Part 2 - Life-Giving Miracle
then a miracle happened.he had a heart transplant.
but not only was his physical body resurrected by the new heart, but Mr Samyval also had a change of heart about the way he lived his life.
he began to relax, to savour his life instead of hurrying through it.
with help from his employers, he represented singapore @ the world transplant games.
he began to love his family more, watch his children grow up and became a doting grandfather.
describing myself as "grouchy and suicidal", mr Samyval had told the straits times in 2002:"when i learnt about the donor heart,i just cried."
discharged about 2 weeks later, he put his hand to his chest and told himself:"i will treasure my new heart"
but singapore 6th heart transplant patient died lasat month @ 63
last week, in an interview with the new paper, his wife, mrs Letchimi,57, described him as a "typical Indian man" who was sometimes hot tempered before the operation.
the couple lived @ bukit batok masionette with their daughter and son in law
mr Samyval was a father with strict family rules. he was a husband with strict relationship rules
the couple must never disagree in front of his children
he made it a point to discuss matters with his wife after they had gone to bed
but that was before the transplant
years on, the grandfather looked forward to family gatherings and to tease his 3 grandchildren.
as a retiree @ 62, he also helped his wife of 40 years peel onions and vegetables.
but even then, some things didnt change.
he never said "i love u" to his wife or held her hand in public.
"no,no,no" mrs letchimi blushed to that suggestion, putting her hands to her cheek
"but he needed me to be with him wherever he went- and i followed. i have depended emotionally on him since the day we got married"
beside urging his wife to take part in charities walks with him, he also went to Budapest in Hungary for the 12th world transplant games in 1999.
Part 3- turning point
mr Samyval's life changed in 1991
doctor gave him 6 months to livev-only 16% of his heart was functioning.
he was diagnosed with heart failure
he used to have bad coughs, chest pains and body aches. he was often irritable.
but as the family sole breadwinner, he turned up @ work daily, even taking on additional shifts so that his wife and 3 children, then 23,17 and 13, would not sense that anything was amiss
all despite the fact that his heart was failing
then, within 6 weeks of being put on the waiting list, a late christmas present arrived.
a nurse rang his home and told his wife that a suitable heart donor had been found- a 31 year old chinese man who had died after falling from a tall building
the donor's heart was removed @ the NUH and rushed to the SGH for transplant, which took place on 27 dec
mr Samyval returned regularly to the national heart center(NHC) for cardiac-rehabilitation exercies.
the avid sport participant exercised daily, often cycling around his neighbourhood
to his 31 year old teacher daughter, ms vijaya, he was a "resilient man who never complained about his illness or blue black marks whenever he was discharged from the hospital"
he often had to return to hospital during those 14 years because of complications arising from his heart transplant
but throughout all his hospital stays, mr Samyval was the perfect patient.
even though he had tubes in both hands and both legs, he had the strength to look up from his hospital bed to see who was coming to visit.
and love was strong between him and his wife even though bedridden
nurses who tried to change his diaper would hear him joking bout waiting for his 'girlfriend' to perform the task instead.
recalling with a smile, mrs letchimi said:" nurses would joke, mrs Samyval, your husband is waiting for his girlfriuend to come"
then, on 19 jan this year, mr Samyval did not wake up for his usual morning walk
he refused to leave his room for breakfast. so mrs letchimi took breakfast into the room and they ate together, but he grew faint
a cardiometer reading showed his pulse had dropped drastically and he was immediately rushed to hospital
despite about of shingles last november, she didnt think her husband's condition was taking a turn for the worse
she said:" whenever he goes to ICU, he comes back. there were complications, but it was normal for us to go to the hospital
"the doctors there were good, they'd give him treatment and he would come back"
4 days later, mr Samyval became semi-conscious
he stopped talking, but still managed to ask for water.
said mrs vijaya:" he did everything the doctor told him to do. we have no regrets because the 14 years has given us time to repay everything he has done for us"
he died on 23 jan, following a massive heart attack
"i think he had left with us alot of his strenth," she added
it was a gift his wife and family can keep forever.
Part 4
she held his hand, knelt beside him and whispered into his ear:" im your wife here"
he was unable to speak, but teardrop rolled down his cheek.
he was still trying to live
then his children whispered:" its okay to go ,dad"
soon, he passed away
it was the family's love that kept mr Samyval tarasamy going - especially the love of his wife
last week, when the newpaper met mrs letchimi at her husband's prayers,16 days afther his death, she did not shed a tear.
she admitted she was feeling lonely. but when we visited her home last thursday, she gave us smiles and shared her recipe for love
she said:"i used to nurse him like he was a child"
a housewife for 25 years when mr Samyval received a new heart, she took on her 1st job as a pantry maid because it was her time to provide.
she also cooked 2 meals- 1 for her children, the other for her husband, spicing up his bland, healthy diet with ideas from cookbooks.
speaking of her arranged marriage, she held an old black and white photo of mr Samyval when he was 23 and said:"i was 17 and my uncle showed me this. i thought to myself,' such a good looking man for me?' "
said ms vijaya of her mother:" she doesnt realise how strong she was because she was emotionally supporting him."
the quiet woman felt it was normal to serve her husband simply because "he needs all that, and whateever he wants i'll do it for him"
"from the day we married, i was emotionally dependent on him.now, whatever i feel, i have no 1 to discuss with..i should learn to be independent, i thinkk"
// posted by Pang Boon Peng @ Wednesday, February 15, 2006 
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