PETALING JAYA: A burn survivor’s journey towards recovery is long, lonely and painful, something Eileyn Chua knows all too well.
The Penang-based lawyer who survived a devastating gas explosion, now has her sights set on helping others like her by setting up Malaysia’s first Burn Survivors Society.
“A decade ago, my life changed in the blink of an eye.
“The night that nearly took my life marked the start of a profound transformation,” she said in an interview to mark the tragic anniversary yesterday.
Chua sustained 80% burns when a gas leak caused an explosion in her home in Sungai Nibong, Penang, on April 15, 2016.
Hospitalised for more than a year – including more than two months in a medically induced coma – she battled blood sepsis and was even put on dialysis when her kidneys failed.
Expressing gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the Penang Hospital ICU and burn ward for their support and care, Chua said she is determined to help others going through a similar experience.
“After I was discharged, I couldn’t find a single Malaysian association or non-government organisation that supports burn survivors.
“Fortunately, I discovered Phoenix Society. Based in the United States, it’s the world’s largest organisation for burn survivors,” she said.
Having benefitted from the knowledge and support of its members, Chua together with other burn survivors, want to set up a similar group in Malaysia.
“When you are in pain daily, talking to another burn survivor who is doing well gives hope.
“We need a Malaysian-based society that can provide emotional support and camaraderie to those in recovery, as well as to create awareness on fire safety measures and ways the public can help burn survivors integrate back into society,” she said.
Chua, who is often invited to give motivational talks, hopes to engage with relevant authorities like the Health Ministry and the Fire and Rescue Department to help burn survivors.
“We are in the midst of registering the Burn Survivors Society and would like to reach out to anyone who may need a listening ear to help them through their recovery,” she said.
Chua, who celebrated her 48th birthday recently, launched her self-published memoir When An Explosion Knocks You Down on April 4 in Subang Jaya.
The book, she said, is not just a recount of the events that unfolded that night and the challenging days that followed.
“I remember waking up to the pungent smell of gas, so I rushed to the kitchen.
“That night, I made a mistake that would change my life forever. Instead of shutting off the gas from the cylinder located below the stove, I reached for the knob to make sure it was properly turned off.
“The next thing I knew, there was a loud, deafening explosion.”
Through her experiences, Chua learnt that life, no matter how unpredictable or painful, offers profound insights.
“There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
“Through perseverance and faith, we can emerge stronger, wiser and more compassionate from our darkest moments.
“May my story serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding you that no matter what life throws your way, you must never give up,” she said.
Chua can be reached at gasexplosionsurvivor@gmail.com.
