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Today was simple.

But it meant so much.

Michiko invited me for brunch at Plaza Singapura. We ate, laughed, talked. Then we decided to walk all the way to Ngee Ann City. It wasn’t a short walk, but sometimes the best conversations happen when you’re just walking side by side.

We went into Kinokuniya Main Store @kinokuniya_singapore — and there it was.

My book.

《雷霆一击 Thunderstroke》 sitting quietly on the shelf.

I don’t know how to describe that feeling. Every time...

You know what is strange?

Before my stroke, I was articulate.

Words were my strength.

I could speak clearly. Confidently. Fast.

Then everything changed.

Now I speak slower.

Sometimes I lose the word halfway.

Sometimes my brain blanks out at the worst time.

And I see it.

That flicker in people’s eyes.

The moment they wonder if I understand.

If I am still… sharp.

Let me say this clearly.

It is not just after my stroke.

It still happens now.

Even today.

And for a...

The Boston Aphasia Community Group has been quietly building a caring and supportive space for decades. Founded in 1990 by speech-language pathologist Jerome Kaplan together with individuals living with aphasia, the group has grown into a close-knit community rooted in understanding, respect, and shared...

With gratitude to Grassroots Book Room and Monsoon Books for giving 《雷霆一击》 a home overseas

Some moments arrive quietly — and then they stay with you.

I am deeply grateful and genuinely moved that my book 《雷霆一击》 Thunderstroke is being featured by 季風帶（Monsoon Books）台北 at the Taipei International Book Exhibition 2026, taking place from 3 to 8 February.

To see my book standing on a shelf in Taipei feels surreal. What began as a very personal journey — shaped by...

Yesterday, I went to Punggol Library with no expectations.

Just a simple visit. Just another day.

And then I saw it.

My new book — Thunderstroke 《雷霆一击》 — sitting quietly on the shelf.

No announcement.

No spotlight.

Just there.

Among other books.

Waiting for a reader.

I stood there for a moment longer than I expected to. I didn’t rush. I didn’t take it lightly. Because this moment meant more than seeing my name on a cover....

This one was written with pauses, fragments, and a lot of courage.

Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story was born after my stroke, when words no longer came easily and silence became part of my everyday life. Poetry became a way for me to speak again — slowly, imperfectly, honestly.

To have this book recognised as a 2026 Distinguished Favorite (Inspiration) by the Independent Press Award means more...

Thank you to SG Daily for sharing this video and helping amplify the voices from Aphasia Reframed. For many of us, being seen and heard is already a big step.

I am deeply grateful to the friends who came to support the event — Serena and her husband, Wilson and Jolin, Chim, Vincent, Maya and Melvin, Wendy, Janet and family, Sam and Chew Yen, Jeanie, Dr Isaac, Alton, Si Jie, and Glenn. Your presence meant more than you may realise. Some of you have...

I first got to know Shin Ying through the @casualpoetlibrary . She has always been incredibly supportive of my books, and what touched me deeply was learning that she even purchased copies to place at the A&E Department of Changi General Hospital—a quiet but meaningful act of kindness.

Through her Instagram, I later discovered that Shin Ying @life_with_an_artitude is more than a medical doctor. She is also an avid artist who truly embraces...

Thankful to Vibes by @vibesby8world for featuring Can You Hear Me? and for the care taken in telling this story.

In the article, Evelyn Khoo, founder of @aphasia.sg , shared:

“Aphasia: Reframed was a rare opportunity for honest conversations with the public. Can You Hear Me? captured the loneliness and social isolation experienced by persons with aphasia. I hope everyone in Singapore will get to watch this someday.”

I was deeply moved by the reflections...

Some news still feels unreal even when I am looking right at it.

Today, I received the incredible honour of being named one of Printed Word Reviews’ TOP Picks of the season. Thunderstroke, my poetry memoir born from one of the hardest chapters of my life, now stands alongside remarkable books from around the world. And soon, it will light up Times Square in New York City.

Printed Word Reviews selected Thunderstroke as part of its curated list of...

Today feels like Christmas morning.
Not because of presents under a tree, but because two very special deliveries arrived at my doorstep: my Christmas cookies from the Aphasia SG Bake Sale Fundraiser and the beautiful 2026 calendar created by Junle and his parents.
And just like that, my heart is full.A Calendar Made With Heart

This calendar is one of those creations that feels as if it was made with gentle hands and warm hearts. It holds the love,...

This film is not just a project. It is a reflection of my journey with aphasia — the struggle to speak, the frustration, the longing for connection, and the quiet moments that say more than words ever could.
Can You Hear Me? follows a man’s quest...

CONTROL YOUR MIND… OR SOMEONE DUMBER WILL DO IT FOR YOU

— And trust me, after my stroke, even my own brain tried to outsmart me.

There’s something about this picture that makes me laugh — and wince — at the same time.

Because after my stroke in 2020, I realised one thing very quickly:

If I didn’t take control of my mind, my mind would happily wander off on its own…and return only when it felt like causing trouble.

Aphasia was like having a personal “IT...

My heart is very full today.

I’m honoured to share that Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story has been selected as a Finalist in the 2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards (Poetry Category).

The email was brief, signed by William R. Potter, Founder of the IAN Book of the Year Awards — but for me, it carried the weight of the last few years: stroke, aphasia, fear, frustration, and the long, slow journey of learning to speak and write again.

For...

Christmas has always been a season I cherish — a time when my home transforms into a place of warmth, colour, and welcome. Weeks before December arrives, I start preparing. I pull out the boxes of ornaments, fairy lights, ribbons, and little treasures collected over the years. I buy flowers — always flowers — because they brighten the home and my heart. And then comes the part I love most: planning the lunches and dinners that will fill my flat with...

Last Sunday marked the final day of filming for Can You Hear Me? — and what a day it was! We started early, with six scenes to complete before 10 p.m. The very first scene of the day was the waltz — the one where I dance alone on stage, under the spotlight.

During the trial run, everything went smoothly. I was in my element, moving to the rhythm and feeling the emotion of the moment. But when we began filming the...

When I said yes to acting in Can You Hear Me?, I thought I was saying yes to a story about finding your voice beyond words. Then I read a scene direction that made my stomach drop:

He waltzes.

Me? The guy with drop foot and a right leg that curls into a cringe the moment nerves show up? I laughed out loud, then sat very quietly. Because sometimes laughter is how I buy time while my courage catches up.

The room, the...

What an inspiring day at the SG Book Fair 2025, held at Bras Basah Complex in conjunction with the Singapore Writers Festival!

A Multilingual Experience — the fair features books and authors in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, creating a truly inclusive platform for literary exploration and cultural connection.

At the Union Book Co Pte Ltd 友联书局 booth, I was delighted to see 《雷霆一击》(Thunderstroke) displayed as one of...

After almost 10 years, I finally have a new passport — and I’m ready for the world.

It may sound simple, but for me, it’s a big step. During COVID, I suffered a stroke. Since then, I’ve been hesitant to travel. Long flights, unfamiliar places, the unknowns — they all felt daunting, especially for someone like me who’s a little rigid, has OCD tendencies, and holds high expectations.

This afternoon, I went to the post office to collect my new passport;...

Read: https://branddo.co/2025/09/29/every-step-counts/...