PETALING JAYA: Lioe Sie Luan, the Chinese school teacher whose compassion transformed a wayward Indian student, spurring him to become a brain surgeon years later has passed away.
The 93-years-old former teacher of SJK Chung Hwa near Sungai Petani, Kedah who was under the care of a nursing home breathed her last in the early hours on Wednesday.
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Grieving her death, Prof Dr Parthiban Navoo said he would dearly miss his former teacher whom he fondly called "Low Ser".
Describing her as the "guiding light" of his early childhood almost 50 years ago, the 57-year-old prominent neurosurgeon who is attached to a private hospital in Malacca said he was further saddened that he could not attend her funeral to pay his last respects as several of his patients are in recovery and need close monitoring in the intensive care unit.
"I had just visited her about a month ago at the home in Sungai Petani and never knew it would be the last time I would see her. She was a beautiful soul, full of love and compassion, seeing people beyond their race or skin colour. How all that changed my life and made me who I am now.
"Her passing leaves a profound void but her words of wisdom will always keep playing in my head. It breaks my heart that I am unable to bid my last goodbye to my dear Low Ser. But I know Low Ser and she would have wanted me to put my patients as a priority and attend to their health first. It is what she would have wanted," said the grieving doctor.
Parthiban extended his condolences with a large bouquet of flowers while his mother and sister attended Lioe's funeral on his behalf.
In a message attached to the bouquet, he wrote, "You taught me more than subjects. You taught me to embrace knowledge and cherish wisdom. You showered me with your love. You may have departed but you will remain in my memory forever".
The remains of Lioe who died of age-related ailments were cremated at the Sungai Pasir crematorium on Friday.
Ironically, Lioe's demise was exactly a year after the Star carried an exclusive heart-warming story on Jan 14 last year of how her acts of kindness had changed Parthiban's life from a rebellious child with poor grades to the state's top student.
As his parents were in deep poverty and could not afford to give him any tuck shop money, Dr Parthiban who was the only Indian student of the vernacular primary school often went hungry and ate green guavas from a tree during recess time.
Seeing him appear troubled and distressed, Lioe approached him and took him under her care, bringing him home-cooked meals daily and motivating him to take his studies seriously.
Upon graduating from medical school and grateful for the pivotal role she played in shaping his life, he moved the lone widow to a more conducive retirement home from a low-cost one, footing the costs for the improved care until her last days.
For the kindness, care and gratitude he had shown his aged teacher, Parthiban received recognition awards from several organisations, the latest being the Golden Ethical Hearts Award from the Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia (BEIM) in November last year.