At 28, IT engineer Vincent Lim was the picture of health, devoting hours to the gym and cycling around Singapore, even once biking an impressive 80 km. Life was vibrant, and all was well.
Then, one afternoon while out for lunch at work, a sudden, severe headache struck, followed by intense vomiting. Before he knew it, Vincent was rushed to the hospital, where doctors delivered shattering news: he had a brain AVM – a rare condition in which abnormal blood vessels rupture, leading to a stroke. His family watched in shock as he fought for his life, unconscious for over 20 days, his future uncertain.
When Vincent finally awoke, even the simplest movements were a struggle. Paralysis on his left side made everyday tasks difficult. Transferred to St Luke’s Hospital (SLH) for intensive rehabilitation, Vincent began an arduous journey to regain his strength and relearn skills once second nature. Occupational therapy sessions saw him gradually mastering daily tasks – folding laundry, dressing, feeding himself. Physiotherapy helped him rebuild limb strength, pushing him to climb stairs and stand tall. Speech therapy guided him as he worked to speak and swallow clearly, his voice a little stronger each day.
One memory still brings a smile to his face: the day he used SLH’s robotic Exoskeleton machine to practice walking. For a moment, he felt like a Transformer hero, ready to take on the world.
Now discharged, Vincent visits SLH’s Day Rehabilitation Centre twice a week. Each session is another step toward his goal of full mobility and independence. Through persistence, he strengthens his legs and arms, pushing himself closer to his goals: to move freely as he once did and go on a vacation with his wife again.
Ever optimistic, Vincent believes that having a stroke “is not the end of the world.” Though the journey to recovery is long, he presses on with determination, hope, and the steadfast support of his family, steadily moving closer to the life he once knew. Reflecting on his time in recovery, Vincent shared, “Thank you so much to all the staff who helped me – from the physical, occupational, and speech therapists to the medical social worker. They are more than just staff; they became my friends.”
