Stories to Inspire
Roslee Karim
Battered, but not shattered!
Roslee Karim, a web designer with SPD Multimedia Centre, shares his life journey with us. He has a spinal cord injury as a result of a traffic accident.
What matters most in bringing human satisfaction is human relations. To be able to care for your fellow human beings, to be able to give! Never mind about receiving.
The 21st of November 1991 radically changed my life forever. I was a 21-year-old lad back then. On that tragic night, a friend of mine had offered me a ride when we were heading home after a best friend’s wedding dinner. I didn’t reach home as planned, and could not remember how I ended up in the hospital.
When I first opened my eyes, I remember seeing the worried faces of my relatives. The doctor told me that I had been in a coma for a couple of days and because of a road traffic accident, I injured my spine and would not walk again for the rest of my life.
My life took a different turn; I went through the whole grieving process starting with denial. I refused to accept that my injury was going to be permanent. Though I had very little movement in my arms during that time, I would spend hours dressing myself. I felt asking for help was a sign of weakness and it wasn't part of my vocabulary. But as time passed, my condition improved. At that time I was introduced to a new friend – ‘Mr Wheelie’, my wheelchair.
I believe each obstacle I overcame helped me become stronger. I’m so grateful to have family and friends for support. The first few months at home I felt that I was in a prison. I could not go out and do the things I used to do. I was so depressed and frustrated at that time. I felt that I couldn’t ask my parents for help, as I had already been a burden to them.
Previously, I used to be an active and cheerful person during my school and NS days. I was one of the best strikers for my team then. I loved hanging out with friends, and played the guitar and drums. I was waiting to be enlisted as a recruitment officer, and was about to be engaged. But I can’t turn back time or look back in anger now, as I know I’m lucky to be alive and given a second chance to live. I’m grateful for a good dad who has sacrificed so much for me and inspired me to move on with this life. I couldn’t have asked for more.
For many years, I did not have a goal in life, and lived one day at a time. In 2002, a social worker introduced me to SPD, and so I joined as a web designer.
At SPD, I was taught to use sophisticated software. To my surprise, within a few months, I managed to build a very simple website with flash animation – the beginning of my new passion in designing. I’ve been at SPD Multimedia Centre (MMC) for about four and half years now. In my time here, I’ve been assigned to do quite a few important projects. One of the projects I’ve handled was the revamping of the SPD website to be accessible (for people with varying disabilities). It was a tough and complicated job – the hardest I’ve encountered so far, but I’m honored to do this project.
The successes that I’ve gained at SPD are not destinations but part of my journey. I’m blessed and grateful to be here, as I’ve learnt to be a better person through working with the dedicated people around me. I’ve experienced a lot of good things here, and it has changed my life for good. I’ve learnt to appreciate the bad days, as they will make the good days taste sweeter. I feel like a new person and that has given me a new lease of life.
My humble advice to people who have a disability like me, is to live your life to the fullest and never give up on your hopes and dreams. Ok, life may not be a movie, but what’s wrong with thinking it is? I prefer not to think of the negatives, but to always believe that there are opportunities waiting for you if you keep on visualising it. I've endured and persevered through many challenges, and will continue to fight on. In closing, I want to thank all the beautiful people who have positively influenced my life, and who continually encourage and strengthen me to keep moving forward in my life journey! Thank you!