Thomas Chua Chee Siong - one year on

Remember the name? Thomas Chua Chee Siong? I blogged about him about a year back after hearing him speak at our organisation's seminar.
At the seminar, what I remembered most was how he shared openly on the accident that resulted from the drinking binge, the family support he needed and the emotional roller-coaster that he had to go through. 


It was inspiring to see how he coped with the misfortune and how he now has a positive outlook on life.
Why am I blogging about him again? As I was looking at some old entries, I read about my previous entry and it stirred my emotions again. Hence, I decided to do a little search on how he has been since. (because I'm too shy to make friends with people and he doesn't know me personally haha...)


And he has done well since...


As one of the invited speakers at an event held in Resorts World Sentosa (Jun 2010) Happiness, Resilience and Optimism - skills for thriving in challenging times. Among the speakers was a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Tickets for the full event was selling at $2,899!!!

http://www.simply-happy.com/newsite/speakers.html


Looking (or peeping) at his Facebook photos, he seems to be quite a regular speaker at conferences and seminars of insurance companies now.
Happy that all is well with him, even though I do not know him at all.


Maybe the next book I read should be his: Beyond the Fall by Thomas Chua Chee Siong 

Beyong the Fall - Thomas Chua Chee Siong

Looks like I am a long way off being cured of my disease and addiction.


--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Everybody falls, it is the getting up that matters!

Thomas Chua Chee Siong

Thomas Chua Chee Siong... remember the name?

Most probably not.. But.. you may remember his story..

Coz I did.. and it has been a decade...

He was a invited guest speaker at our recent seminar for our organisation..

When I first heard his name, the first thing that came to my mind..

"Who the hell is he?"...

Then a reminder of his story..

More than a decade ago (1998).. I remembered reading an article about a teen.. Who got dead drunk at a party.. (How many of us haven't?).. the difference was.. he got so drunk.. he fell from the 3rd storey!.. Paralysed neck down..

Remember reading about it?..

That was more than 10years ago. Read it.. Felt sorry.. Sympathised.. And life moves on.. that's for the rest of us..

Seeing him in person.. in his wheelchair.. in his condition.. so many years since he is forgotten.. Life is never going to be the same again for him..

Luckily he had SOME insurance payout.. and he admitted in the past he HATED insurance agents.. that is till the accident... 10 years on.. His monthly expenses because of his condition.. is still more than $2,000 a month! Unfortunately, for most people, they wait til it's too late...

And incidents like this.. Reinforces and reminds me what I do for a living.. for my clients benefits more than I can imagine.. And that is the miracel of life insurance.. When a promise is delivered.. To take care of oneself or their loved ones.. simply by the magic of ink and paper..

This day on.. Thomas Chua the name may be forgotten again.. We will all lead our lives again.. But I do hope things get better for him.. And he remains as positive as he is now..

--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Insurance is like a parachute.. When you are out of the plane.. It's too late...