A Stroke Worth Fighting Through

When a loved one suffers a stroke, the uncertainty can be overwhelming. For families, the sudden change in their loved one’s condition can bring fear, confusion and difficult decisions — especially when the prognosis appears poor.

For Ms Tiew and her family, this was the reality they faced when her father, Mr Tiew, suddenly lost consciousness.

What followed was an anxious search for answers, and ultimately, a decision that would give their father a chance at recovery.

From One Hospital to Another

Mr Tiew experienced a sudden loss of consciousness and was initially taken to a hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator. A CT scan of his brain was subsequently conducted at another hospital.

After reviewing the scan findings and considering Mr Tiew’s age, the family was informed that his prognosis was poor and that active intervention was not recommended.

For Ms Tiew and her family, however, giving up was not an option.

Determined to explore every possible avenue, they began contacting hospitals across the Klang Valley in search of a team that could assess and treat their father. Their search eventually led them to Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC), where Mr Tiew was accepted for further assessment and treatment.

A Chance Worth Taking

Upon receiving Mr Tiew’s case details, the SJMC neurosurgical team reviewed the information and CT brain images provided by the previous hospitals.

Dr N Ramesh Narenthiranathan, Consultant Neurosurgeon at SJMC, and the neurosurgical team suspected that Mr Tiew had suffered a possible ruptured aneurysm resulting in an intracranial haemorrhage — bleeding within the brain that can be life-threatening.

While the family was counselled that the outcome could not be guaranteed, the team proceeded with surgery.

“It is out of the doctors’ and hospital’s control when it comes to a patient’s final outcome. However, it is always better to fail trying than to fail without trying. Hence why we took the patient in and did our best in performing the surgery,” shared Dr Ramesh.

The surgery was successfully performed, giving Mr Tiew an opportunity to begin his recovery.

Image of a rehabilitation session for illustrative purposes only

Recovery Takes Time

For the Tiew family, the journey did not end after surgery. Recovery required time, patience and rehabilitation. Ms Tiew was grateful for the care her father received throughout his treatment and rehabilitation at SJMC.

“The doctors, nurses, support staff and the rehab team at SJMC were professional. From treatment to rehabilitation, everything was professionally arranged. We are grateful that our father has been recovering well,” shared Ms Tiew.

Today, Mr Tiew continues to recover, supported by his family and rehabilitation team.

“Do Not Give Up”

Every stroke and brain injury is different, and recovery depends on many factors, including the type, location and severity of the injury, the patient’s overall health and how they respond to treatment.

For families facing a difficult prognosis, Ms Tiew believes that being present and supportive can make an important difference.

“To those children who are going through the same thing with their parents, my advice is to be patient with them, as recovery takes time. Be present and encourage your parent. Trust in the doctors and physicians. And of course, remember to take care of yourselves too in the process.”

“Do not give up, because it will get better,” she added.