Name: Toh Yi Lin Eleen
Millennia Institute
Pre-University One (Arts)
What goes into the notion “hero” and what is heroism today seem to be two very complex issues.
It seems, at best, that both do not have definite answer.
My notion of hero changed as time went by, for some time it meant Superman, Spiderman and the Power Rangers; but I cannot really remember when I stop idolizing them. It looks like I had different heroes at different stages of my life, but none left a deep impression on me. None made changed or affected the way I look at life… until recently.
Faced with the opportunity to write about “my hero” I jumped and volunteered as I thought it would be an easy task, but ended up questioning myself and thinking about what those two words meant to me. I then realized that the first person who came into my mind was none other than my grandmother.
Grandma is currently lying in the ICU (intensive care unit) due to stroke. A few days ago, she collapsed suddenly at home and was rushed to hospital for immediate treatment. My mother called me and judging by her calm voice and solemnity I was preparing for the worse. When I finally reached the sordid place I couldn’t believe my eyes, indeed she was there lying motionless on the sterile white bed of the Emergency Room. Face tilted to the right, the left a little opened, she looked so much different than what she was in person.
Hours later when we were allowed to see her again the only think that helped me identify her was her name written on top of one of the many medical equipment around. I hesitated as the distorted facial muscles were giving her an expression out of this world and she looked more like a stranger than like a person that I have known all through my life.
She used to tell us that she detests hospitals, doctors and the awful taste of medicine. Whenever she was sick she would rather suffer in silence than seek treatment. She is a stubborn, but always strong and firm in her decisions. At the same time she is independent and one couldn’t help but admire her. Whenever she was faced with difficulties, she would quench her fist and brave through and, eventually overcome them.
She took care of me since I was born and brought me up while my parents work and we have a special connection. Once when I was about four while playing and running around I slowly drifted away and eventually fall. While confronted with both pain and a grandma nowhere in sight I started wailing and all of a sudden she seemed to materialize from behind a wall. I think in this manner she has thought me not to wonder off and be more self reliant.
Even though lying motionless, she seemed to be fighting bravely against the physical odds with the same mental strength she has one helped me experience.
As the days are passing by her state seems to be slowly improving, it looks like her mission is not over and her resilience gives me more courage to face the little problems in their true perspective.
I hope I can tell her all that …
(534 words)