Elvis Lim seemed like any other Singaporean. The 49-year-old father of three would wake up every morning, spend most of his day at his computer working, and take breaks during mealtimes.
Mr Lim, a full-time game analyst, often works long hours testing new games and co-hosting livestreams, among other duties.
As the sole breadwinner, he has no complaints about returning to work even after dinner if it means supporting his wife and three young children aged five, seven, and nine.
Life followed this steady rhythm, until three months ago, when he suddenly felt weakness on his left side.
One night, while smoking, Mr Lim noticed that his cigarette was no longer in his hand. Instead, it had fallen to the floor.
He found it odd but brushed it off and went to bed, thinking little of it.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time,” said Mr Lim.
The next morning, however, he woke up to find that the weakness in his hand had spread to his entire left side, including his leg.
Source: Zay Nyi Nyi on Canva, for illustration purposes only
His first thought was immediately of his children.
“I was scared that something bad was already happening to me because I have three young kids at home,” said Mr Lim.
With this thought in mind, Mr Lim mustered the strength to head to Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he informed the nurses that he was likely having a stroke.
Source: Science Photo Library on Canva, for illustration purposes only
As he was trained in first-aid, Mr Lim recognised that his left-sided weakness was a symptom of stroke. What he did not know then was the reason behind it.
In 2022, Mr Lim had a heart attack and was prescribed Warfarin — an anticoagulant he calls a “blood thinner” — to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Source: Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash, for illustration purposes only
Life then went on as per normal, even after this medical emergency.
He jumped right back into his role as the family’s main provider and kept himself busy putting food on the table.
However, within two months of his recovery, Mr Lim stopped taking his medication due to the demands of his work and family life.
“I stopped taking Warfarin, didn’t go to my check ups, and [missed] my blood tests,” said Mr Lim. “I think I stopped taking medication for close to two years.”
Unfortunately, this lapse contributed to his recent stroke.
Following the stroke, Mr Lim was hospitalised at SGH where he spent his days determined to get better.
His motivation? His two sons and daughter, who were waiting for him to come home.
Source: Riza Azhari on Canva, for illustration purposes only
“I never [sic] let them visit me in the hospital,” said Mr Lim, explaining that it would not be easy for his wife to manage his kids — whom he fondly described as “mischievous”.
Mr Lim’s wife is a home-maker, and the couple has always raised their children without a helper.
That said, he stayed connected with them through video calls. While his children knew that he was in hospital, Mr Lim said that “they were too young to understand” his condition.
His drive to return home to them led him to ask the nurses daily about his discharge date.
When they did not give a definite answer, Mr Lim set his mind to making the most of his rehabilitation in hospital by doubling down on his physical therapy sessions.
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Scheduled for therapy every two to three days, Mr Lim took matters into his own hands, making slow trips to the hospital canteen to rebuild his strength, always keeping close to railings for support.
In hindsight, Mr Lim noted that his ‘explorations’ were not advisable, recalling an instance when he received a stern rebuke from concerned nurses after “disappearing” from his bed.
“You can call it being stubborn, but I want to push myself to recover,” said Mr Lim. “I have an obligation at home, I need to recover faster.”
Around two weeks after being admitted, Mr Lim received the green light to return home. He described feeling relieved more than anything.
When Mr Lim was discharged sometime between late June and early July, he said, he had gained about 60 percent of his strength.
Today, he has regained around 90 percent of it, although he acknowledges that his body might never be the same.
“I will never be 100 percent,” said Mr Lim, who first spotted a minor difference while cutting his fingernails. Even though his strength has returned, he observed that the control in his left hand is not as good as the past.
Source: lma_stock on Canva, for illustration purposes only
Mr Lim still occasionally works long and irregular hours to take care of the family finances, but now chooses to be more active in his free time.
Instead of being cooped up at home, Mr Lim now walks his children to school each morning as a form of light exercise.
Additionally, he’s made a habit of climbing the stairs in his neighbourhood — a practice that started in physiotherapy.
Perhaps most importantly, Mr Lim diligently takes his prescribed dosage of Warfarin every day and tries to incorporate more vegetables into his diet.
Quitting smoking, however, remains an ongoing process for him.
Source: shisuka on Canva, for illustration purposes only
Having picked up smoking in his youth, Mr Lim shared that at its worst, he used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day.
He is slowly working towards kicking the habit, and has progressed to half a pack a day. His next milestone would be five to six sticks a day.
With his three children as his main motivation, Mr Lim remains optimistic about embracing a healthier lifestyle.
“My kids are still young. If they are in their 20s or 30s, I wouldn’t be so disciplined to get better,” he said.
“They still need me around, I cannot afford anything to happen to me.”
Mr Lim’s story is a reminder to stay motivated when working to drop unhealthy habits. In his case, his children serve as his guiding light.
This year, the annual National Stroke Awareness Campaign encourages Singaporeans to take the S.M.A.R.T approach to stroke prevention.
These include opting for healthy lifestyle choices such as Smoke-free living, having Meals that are healthy, maintaining an Active lifestyle, undergoing Regular health screenings, and Taking prescribed medications.
Source: lzf on Canva, for illustration purposes only
It’s also important to recognise the signs of a stroke using the F.A.S.T method: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 995 for an ambulance if you notice any of these symptoms. Early stroke treatment can significantly improve the chances of recovery.
By following these steps, you can reduce the risks and consequences of stroke and enjoy more precious moments with your loved ones.
For more information on the National Stroke Awareness Campaign, visit the Spot Stroke Facebook page.
This article was brought to you in collaboration with the Stroke Services Improvement(SSI) team.
Featured image adapted from Huyen Pham on Unsplash and shisuka on Canva, for illustration purposes only.
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