MyStory

My Grandfather, The Hero In My Heart

            Chua Yew Keng, the hero in my heart. He was my grandfather. He was someone whom I respected most and had made great impact on me in my life. No one can replace this hero in my heart.

            I was very close to my grandfather. When he was alive, I would stay at his place almost every weekend. His place was like a second home. Grandfather passed away because he had lost the battle between the devil of liver cancer and himself. All these happened when I was in Primary Six. In my memory, grandfather wore a singlet and black trousers everywhere. His whole body smells of Marlborough Mint. There were only two things that were expensive on him. First, his Rolex watch that never leaves his hand. Next, the packet of Marlborough which was his tool for survival. He was a drinker. He drank beer like people drank water. To people, water was essential. To him, beer was essential. This was part of the cause for his big tummy and liver cancer.

            Although, grandfather was a heavy smoker and a drinker, he cares a lot for the people around him. However, he was short-tempered. His mood changes like a tickling watch. He could be happy one second and angry the next second. Whenever he was angry, he would shout at me. When this happen, I could feel the vibrations in my ear drums. It seemed like my ear drums would burst anytime and I would go deaf.

            Grandfather had little education. He always explained the importance for me to attend school. He said that the only way to survive in the outside world was to have good education. When my grandfather was young, he loved to attend school. However, he stopped because of the period of Japanese Occupation. There were little opportunities for him to attend school.

            Grandfather not only taught me the importance of education. He also taught me how to be a strong girl. Moreover, he taught me how to smile even if I met problems. His favourite sentence was ‘All problems come with solutions. So long as we are determined to solve it, we will succeed.’ This was why, all the things that grandfather wanted to do he would do it. All his determination inspired me to be stronger and be persevering. I just hope to be like my grandfather.

            Grandfather suffered tremendously during the battle with the devil of liver cancer. However, he was optimistic and cheerful. He went through different treatments but none of them cure his cancer. Some treatments let him felt like being poked by thousands of needles. Despite this, he remained strong and never gave up. He understood that none of us bear to see him leave the world. Therefore, he tried his very best. Before he passed away, he told me to be strong and not to cry. He said all things are fated. He wanted me to stay happy and live my life with no regrets. Grandfather was very strong.

            Although grandfather would never be able to appear in front of me, his actions and words changed me. From a girl who was easily bullied and cried upon being bullied, I became a strong girl who knew how to protect myself. Without my grandfather, I would never understand the importance of education, to be strong and be happy no matter what happened. My hero, my grandfather. A strong and happy man.