When Ravinder Kaur Rattan Singh was told her leg had to be amputated, the 55-year-old went into shock, but signed the consent form anyway.
The diabetic patient had developed an ulcer in her lower right leg that wouldn’t heal, eventually turning black and gangrenous, indicating that blood flow to the tissue had been cut off.
The doctors advised her to remove the affected part, i.e. amputate above the knee, or the bacteria would enter her bloodstream and organs, endangering her life.
“Initially, I wanted to commit suicide, then I thought twice about it because I’m a single mother with four children, and even though they’re all adults, they still need me.
“They asked me why I want to kill myself when there are so many people without a leg who can still do work from a wheelchair.
“For their sake, I kept quiet, and in my heart I said, never mind, I will use a ‘bluff leg’ and rebuild my life.
“I don’t know how I got diabetes because I don’t have a family history of the disease, although my father was diagnosed with it – but only when he was 80,” she says, choking with emotion.
Her daughter Rashveen, 28, offers: “My mother was diagnosed with vasculitis [an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels] a decade ago and the doctor gave her steroids, which caused her blood glucose levels to spike.
“She was not diabetic then, but was subsequently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which she controlled very well.”
Doctors are uncertain whether Ravinder’s diabetes is steroid-induced or she had undiagnosed diabetes that worsened after taking steroids.
Ravinder used to work as a restaurant helper, but had to quit when her condition worsened as she had difficulty being on her feet for long periods; she is now receiving PERKESO support.
Last November (2024), she had her amputation surgery.
Everything went smoothly, but in December (2024), she developed an infection in the wound and had to be hospitalised again for surgical debridement.
That caused her to sink into depression.
“There’s less pain and I feel better, but I’m sad that my daughter has to do everything for me.
“She stopped work because of me,” says Ravinder, tears streaming down her face.
Rashveen quickly interjects: “Ma, I didn’t stop working because of you.
“I stopped because I want to be there for you – there’s a difference!”
Some mornings, Ravinder forgets part of her limb is missing and tries to get off the bed herself.
“Last week, she wanted to go into the kitchen, and thankfully, realised in time that her leg is not there and didn’t fall off the bed.
“She will start going for rehabilitation soon as her left leg is also very weak and she can’t feel the ground when she stands,” says Rashveen.
Prosthetics will have to wait until Ravinder builds her strength physically, mentally and emotionally.
What is her ultimate goal?
Dabbing her tears, Ravinder says: “I haven’t entered the kitchen for a year and I miss cooking for the family.
“That’s what I really want to do.”
“Soon, soon,” consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Siti Hawa Tahir reassures her.
From depression to motivation
Halimah Mad Shat thought nothing about the frequent boils that would appear and disappear around her lips.
She was also often thirsty and urinated aplenty – all signs of diabetes that she was not aware of when she was 30.
Only when she was pregnant with her second daughter was she diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
She was 33 then.
The 58-year-old recalls: “During my seventh and eight month of pregnancy, I was often in and out of hospital due to diabetes.
“I stopped drinking all sweet drinks, and even though I’m slim and don’t take much sugar, my blood sugar levels continued to be high.
“The diabetes didn’t go away after my pregnancy and the doctor diagnosed me with type 2 diabetes and put me on medications.
“My condition is genetic as my grandparents, parents, and now my youngest daughter who is 25, have all been diagnosed with diabetes.”
Halimah’s husband decided it was best for his wife to quit her job and be a homemaker to raise their two daughters.
And that’s what she’s been happily doing for the last 25 years.
In 2023, she bought a new pair of shoes that gave her blisters.
Halimah says she cleaned the blisters daily, but they clumped together to form a wound, getting bigger and blacker until she could no longer step on the foot.
“I consulted a doctor at a clinic and was referred to Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
“They told me my foot couldn’t be saved and must be amputated below the knee.
“My husband and children were against it, but I told them I was in unbearable pain so they left the decision to me,” she shares.
The amputation surgery was carried out in 2023.
Halimah says: “My self-esteem took a dip and I lost my confidence; I slumped into depression as I couldn’t face people or deal with the multiple challenges that came with losing a leg.
“But my family was supportive and I learnt to be patient, leaving my fate in the hands of the Almighty.”
Slowly, after much persuasion from her family, she changed her mindset and started going for rehabilitation at HKL to recover.
It was during her prosthetic fitting that Halimah met a fellow, older amputee who was using a prosthetic leg and strutting confidently without the aid of a walking stick.
“She shared her story and said I could still enjoy life.
“She was so motivating that I came out of the doldrums and decided to work hard on myself,” she says.
It was a frustrating journey, but nine months later, Halimah is a changed person, brimming with positivity.
She says: “The artificial leg is heavy and not like my original leg, but I have to accept my fate.
“Sometimes I simply have no energy to do anything, but I tell myself I must do it.
“I can sweep and do light cooking, but I cannot mop or do heavy work.
“I walk everyday for 30 minutes, and if it’s a very short distance, I can manage without a walking stick; otherwise, I need it for stabilisation and support.”
Halimah looks after herself well and credits her family for being her source of strength.
“If not for them, I don’t know what I’ll do or how I’ll survive,” she says, waving goodbye as she walks out to meet her husband.
Turning back to Ravinder, she says: “I was once like you too. Kena kuatkan semangat (You need to be strong).”
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