37-year-old beautician Lin (nickname) from Ipoh, Malaysia, had to have her hands and legs amputated when she suffered a bacterial infection. Shin Min Daily News reported that she had spent most of her savings on treatments, which amounted to around US$221,940.00 (about S$300,000).
Lin came to Singapore in 2016 to find work. She became a beautician in a beauty parlor. However, in October 2023, she began to feel unwell and suffered from fever, stomachache, and weakness throughout her body. Assuming she only suffered from food poisoning, she visited a doctor and was given medications. Unfortunately, her condition did not improve, prompting her to return to the doctor 2 days later.
“During my second visit, the doctor noticed that something was not right and advised me to visit the emergency department. After that, I just lost consciousness,” Lin recalled.
When Lin awoke, she noticed medical equipment was around her, and her family had arrived to accompany her at the hospital. The doctor notified Lin and her family that she was suffering from a bacterial infection and her health was in poor condition. She was later diagnosed critically ill and informed the family to prepare for the worst.
“My heartbeat was weak, and there was not enough oxygen supplied to my brain. If this situation persisted, I would have become brain-dead. So, my doctor advised me to receive an injection so that blood could flow to my heart and ensure my brain could continue functioning,” said Lin.
The doctor also informed Lin that she might need to sacrifice some parts of her body that were affected by the infection. Initially, her family assumed she would need to amputate her finger, which had appeared gangrene. Soon, they noticed that all her limbs had turned black.
“I watched helplessly as my hands and feet turned black and became heavier until the process spiraled out of control,” Lin recalled.
Then she heard the sad news. The doctor informed Lin that her cells had died, and sepsis was the outcome of her bacterial infection. She would need to undergo amputations to save her life.
“In the end, I made the decision to amputate my hands in November 2023 and my legs in December 2023,” Lin said in an interview while holding back her tears.
Local news reported that it was unknown how she contracted the illness. There were no reports of the location she was at before getting the infection. No one knew if she was admitted to a hospital in Singapore where her limbs were amputated.
While Lin was still confined in the hospital, the doctor discovered a hole in her large intestine. A stoma bag was attached to her abdomen to help with defecation. In January 2024, she was discharged from the hospital and recently received her prosthetic legs.
Lin revealed that each prosthetic leg costs US$11,100.00 (about S$15,000), which she pays in installments. Soon, she will be purchasing prosthetics for both her hands, which will cost her around US$10,360.00 (about S$14,000). “I have to get used to these changes gradually,” said Lin.
Since Lin had spent all her savings on her treatments and hospitalization and lost her job, she currently has no income. However, her sister stepped in to help financially. She lives in a 3-room public housing flat with her sister, her sister’s husband, and their 63-year-old mother.
In an interview with Shin Min, Lin’s mother said that her daughter was never hysterical and never lost her temper despite what she was going through. Initially, Lin admitted that it was difficult for her to accept the changes in her body and did not want to meet with her friends.
“However, it was my family’s support that allowed me to push through. I have to stay strong and live on for them,” Lin said. She also expressed her gratitude to the beauty salon where she used to work, for partially helping her with medical expenses.
Although Lin is granted a short-term visit pass requested by her doctors to the authorities for her condition, she will need to re-apply for a new pass monthly to continue receiving treatment in Singapore.
“I also hope I can find a job within my ability in Singapore after I recover, and I am willing to share with those who have the same experience as me on how to face the changes in life so that I can help them,” Lin said.
Generally, bacterial infections rarely lead to amputation, especially in Lin’s case, where all her limbs had to be amputated. An infectious disease specialist at Farrer Park Hospital told Shin Min that Lin’s case was extremely rare.
“If an amputation is needed, it is often because the patient already has an underlying disease or seeks medical treatment too late,” said the specialist.
Paul Tambyah, the president of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, revealed that Lin’s case was extremely rare. “However, in such cases, if the patients refuse to undergo amputations, they risk losing their lives,” Paul Tambyah added.
Lin’s interview with Shin Min was released on June 4. Many have reached out to her and the Chinese daily news media to make their donations to her. According to Shin Min, Lin is currently accepting donations tentatively through her personal bank account while family members are creating a fundraiser page for her. Lin revealed that she has received donations ranging from US$40 to US$750 from over 10 individuals across Singapore and Malaysia.
A social service agency, Lions Prostheses Centre (LPC), helps amputees finance their prosthetic limbs. They told Shin Min Media they paid Lin a visit on the afternoon of June 6. “If the doctor assessed her to be suitable for installing prosthetic limbs, we will provide them for her. As for the cost, it would depend on the doctor’s assessment. It could be free, or Lin could be paying a small sum,” said LPC.
Lin is hopeful that employment opportunities may come her way despite her condition. “I would be very grateful if someone could offer me an employment opportunity,” she said.
While Lin is unsure of what lies ahead in her future, she is determined and motivated to overcome all obstacles that come her way, one step at a time.
Images credits: © Shin Min Daily News
