Sometime last year I was invited to an event in Kuching. Having been delayed by traffic, I had unfortunately missed out on the opening speeches and on arrival, found cameramen and media personnel zooming their lens onto a good-looking young lady. Her godfather, Datuk Wee Hong Seng, had invited me to the occasion where her book titled, ‘The Journey to Becoming Fearless‘, was launched. I purchased a copy, read it and spent the months thereafter getting to know the author via social media.
With my schedule regularly split between two capitals and event-laden calendar, I certainly have to give this lady a thumbs up for her patience with me as it is already 2019! She was rather perplexed as to why I was holding her in suspense over the interview. Our eventual meeting was not over the typical cup of coffee in a café but at Chin Nam and Fabriko, both established textile shops in India Street. Perspiration running down both our foreheads, it was there on a hot and humid afternoon that the essence of this article unfolded.
21-year old Emelyne Carmen Ho is Kuching-born and currently a second year pharmarcy undergraduate at an Australian university in Kuala Lumpur.
I applaud Emelyne for her tremedous efforts in overcoming medical obstacles that many can hardly imagine for someone so young. Her struggles might be summarised by the following words in the preface of her book: ‘All I knew was pain, It didn’t stop coming: it never did anyway. Grappling with the suffocating and tormenting screams deep inside was exhausting enough. I didn’t need it any more. I closed my eyes. I could no longer see a future. I saw the end. That was when I knew what Fear really was.’
The book itself is a story of hope, courage and strength and is an ideal read for anyone seeking motivation to live on, do better and achieve even in the midst of utmost difficulty.
Butterfly needle insertions and other medical procedures coupled with frequent visits to different medical departments ranging from Paediatrics, Haematology, Gynaecology, Endocrinology, Dermatology and even Opthalmology, was a constant theme for many years of Emelyne’s childhood and teens because of several lifelong illnesses.
At the tender age of just 2 years old, Emelyne displayed symptoms of B Thalassemia Major. The genetic blood disease took a long toll as her bone marrow was incapable of producing red blood cells. Regular blood transfusions and eventually a bone marrow transplant (BMT) were successfully performed after a compatible match was found. The side effects of chemotherapy and steroids not only physically affected her but also emotionally. 
Besides being bloated at the face and body, Emelyne’s hair was falling out and she had to bear a permanent hairless patch upon her scalp. Skin problems followed suit, contributing to discolouration and extreme sensititivy. Nonetheless, she still attended school albeit that the treatment resulted in her being barely recognisable to classmates. She had become the abnormal child and had to endure repeated stares and inquiries from others.
Emelyne’s life became dictated by special dieting, medical routines and particular instructions in respect of almost everything to ensure her utmost safety. She did everything accordingly and tried her best not to exhibit painful reactions to the circumstances.
‘My parents do so much for me and I can feel the sadness and the worry. They gave me so much love and support,’ said Emelyne who is relieved that her Thalassaemia Major illness had been dealt with. Although she remains afflicted with other problems in the form of cataracts and Type 1 diabetes, she has braved them out and accepted the fact that she will always be insulin-dependent. She continues to ensure that she has the necessary insulin shots before meal times.
It calls for mentioning that Emelyne has also transformed from an ‘ugly duckling’ due to those past treatments into a beautiful swan, as one can see from the snapshots captured for this article.
With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, I decided to take her with me for some festive shopping starting with the iconic textile shops of India Street. At Chin Nam, we admired Chinese brocade whose classical red tones never fail to draw the eye. As widely known, red is a significant colour that symbolises good fortune and joy.
At Fabriko, I was most surprised to discover limited edition, customised cheongsams that were made from sarong materials adorned with local ethnic patterns. Emelyne fitted well into one piece that would certainly stand out from the usual cheongsams, being a fashion hybrid of two cultures. Who might have thought that sarongs could be applied to the creation of cheongsams?
At Green Gallery, we browsed through the diverse choice in lanterns and flowers. It is customary for the Chinese to hang red lanterns at the entrance of their homes. Originating from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD to 220 BC) and used as sources of lighting, these unmistakable pieces signify good wishes. Flowers are a must too as they represent the concepts of rebirth and regrowth, an ideal example being the notion of a ‘blossoming’ business for the new year.
Before bidding Emelyne goodbye, I wished her a wondeful and auspicious Lunar New Year. As she walked away, I knew that this strong and determined lady who aspires to work in the pharmacy department of a hospital is bound to be a mentor and inspiration to many. Her courage and confidence is simply hard to dismiss and certainly even harder to put down, come what may. – Vicky Fong
