23/09/2026
Remembering our founder, Mr Ooi Lin Kah π
ππ¨π’ ππ’π§ πππ‘ ι»δΊΊδ½³, ππ (π. ππ πππ©πππ¦πππ« ππππ)
βπΉππ π’π π΄πΏπ πππ‘ππππ‘π , π πππππ π‘βππππ π€πππ πππππ π’π ππ’πβ πππ¦ π π’πβ ππ ππππ π ππππ, π πππ‘β, π ππππ‘πβπππ ππ ππ‘πβ, π π ππ ππ ππππ, π 'βππππ', π π ππππ, π π£ππ ππ‘ ππππ πππ£ππ ππππ πππ πππππππ . π
πππππ¦, π ππππππ βππππ‘βπ¦ ππππ ππ π€πππ πππ‘ ππππππ π π‘βππ π π πππππ πππ¦π .
πΈππππ’ππππππ ππππππ πππ£πππ π€ππ‘β πππ‘ππ πππ’ππππ πππ πππ ππ π‘π ππππππ‘ π‘βπππ ππππππ π . ππ’π ππππππ‘ππ£π ππππππ‘πππ πππ πππ‘ ππππππ‘ππ πππ π€π πππ ππππ πππ βππ€ π€π π€πππ‘ π‘π πππ£π ππ’π‘ ππ’π πππππππππ π¦ππππ .β β Ooi Lin Kah
In 2013, Lin Kah, an engineer, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Doctors gave him five years to live.
Three years later, he lost the function of his two arms and fingers.
In early 2017, he was wheelchair bound.
It was 40 months after his diagnosis.
That same year, he was on non-invasive ventilation (NIV) round the clock.
Progressively, he lost more bodily functions.
He had several traumatic choking episodes and had to undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy to place a feeding tube directly into his stomach.
He missed his favourite food, Penang char kway teow, roti prata and curry fish head.
βI also miss durian.β
He missed going outdoors.
βIt is difficult for my caregivers to transfer me to the car, and I donβt like the curious stares at my ventilator face mask. I really miss the outdoors, but I had to consider the difficulties and the stares.β
He also missed his voice.
In the initial days, it was hard to accept his diagnosis. Why me, he asked.
For a year, he sought psychiatric help and took medications.
There is no cure for ALS.
βMy greatest fears then were death and suffering. I was most fearful of the discomfort to my weakening body, the emotional and financial stress to my family. I did not want to burden my family.β
Lin Kahβs life completely changed.
He had been leading an active lifestyle, enjoying daily jogs, travelling and working on engineering projects.
He would jog 5km before work on weekdays and 10km on weekends.
In the years before his diagnosis, he completed 13 marathons and had gone on various hiking trips overseas.
He was no longer able to do the things he loved.
He lost his freedom.
As his condition progressively deteriorated, Lin Kah no longer had voluntary muscle function and control from the neck down and was completely dependent on his family, domestic worker and machines to sustain his life.
He was fed through a tube. He breathed through an apparatus, and he communicated via an eye-gaze-enabled device.
But he never lost his cognitive abilities.
Therein lies the tragedy of ALS. His mind was well and alive, but his body was not; it was incurable.
Five years came and went. Lin Kah was still there with his family.
He was not done yet.
In late 2020, he became a newly minted grandfather.
Using assistive technology, he wrote his memoir. He hopes to leave behind some memories for his grandchildren. βThey may be interested to know who their grandfather is, and what wise words he may leave behind.β
Doctors told him he had only five years left.
Through sheer determination, Lin Kah lived for another five years.
He lived out his remaining days happily, calmly and meaningfully.
On September 17, 2023, he passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones, including his newborn granddaughter.
From that day on, her birthday is also her grandfatherβs death anniversary.
After his passing, Lin Kah donated his brain and spinal cord to Brain Bank Singapore to help scientists find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
In his death, he enabled others.
βTo live meaningfully means that I will continue to contribute and live positively, leaving behind a positive legacy to my loved ones.β
Yes, you did, Lin Kah.
We owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Sir.
ππ‘π¨ππ¨ ππ«πππ’π: CNA
