Brokenness Becomes Beautiful — My Voice Was Changed, but It Was Not Silenced
After my stroke and aphasia changed the way I speak, I never imagined that I would one day hear my own voice narrating my poetry.
Brokenness Becomes Beautiful: Inspiring Pieces of Poetry is my first audiobook, narrated using a digital version of my own voice created through AI voice-cloning technology. It transforms my personal journey through frustration, brokenness, healing,...
After seeing my face at the TEL MRT station at Orchard, I thought that was already surreal enough.
Now, the videos from the same Team Healthcare campaign are finally out on TikTok and YouTube, and I have been looking forward to seeing them since filming took place just over a month ago.
This is the same campaign I first encountered at Orchard TEL MRT station, where I saw myself on the large LED wall, digital signages, and even the MRT doors. At that time,...
Receiving the Inspirational Patient Award at the SingHealth Inspirational Patient & Caregiver Awards 2026 was a moment I will never forget.
The ceremony was held at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, Academia, Singapore General Hospital. As I walked up to receive the award from Guest-of-Honour Prof Fong Kok Yong, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Medical and Clinical Services, SingHealth, I felt humbled.
Today, I went down to TEL MRT station at Orchard to see something quite surreal.
Yesterday, Dr Isaac told me he had spotted me in the Team Healthcare advertisement there. I was surprised because I thought the campaign would only be out in June or July.
Since I was in town today, I decided to check it out for myself.
Walking over from Orchard MRT station to the TEL MRT station, I was greeted by a large LED wall at the foyer — and there I was, featured in the...
Thank you, Stroke Onward, for sharing my story so thoughtfully.
Looking back at 2020, I never imagined how much my life would change. Aphasia took away something I once took for granted, my ability to communicate easily. There were moments of doubt, frustration, and even questioning myself.
But over time, I realised that healing does not come from blame. It comes from acceptance, reflection, and taking small steps forward each day.
Writing became that step for me. It gave me a voice when words...
I am deeply honoured that one of my works was featured today at Night of Aphasia Arts 2026: More Than Words, organised by the National Aphasia Association.
After my stroke and the onset of aphasia, I had to relearn how to communicate. When speech became uncertain, I turned to writing and drawing. What began as therapy slowly became my voice. That is why being part of this event means so much to me.
This event was a powerful celebration of creativity, connection, and the many ways people with...
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...
Last weekend, I had the privilege of spending time with the Boston Aphasia Community Group—though for me, it happened at a rather unusual hour.
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....
nypaviz20a0qzyryzlod7b6zibal42.28 KBSome books are written with confidence.
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.”
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,...
gljqsqdde4cak0371b0pw166sd35115.06 KB I am very excited to share something deeply personal with all of you. On 13 December 2025, the short film Can You Hear Me? will premiere at SMU, as part of Aphasia: Reframed, an event by Espressivo x Aphasia SG.
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...
