It’s the season of love again! While Valentine’s Day is typically associated with romantic love, let us not forget that love can come in many forms – be it with our family, peers, pets, or even ourselves. This Valentine’s Day, three of our youths share with us some heart-warming acts of love they have received from or given to their loved ones. In this first instalment, let us hear from Shalom Lim (above, in blue jersey), a 25-year-old who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

My name is Shalom Lim, and I would like to dedicate this Valentine’s Day to my amazing family who have been my source of strength and support that has enabled me to be the person I am today. 2020 was our most difficult year as a family as we were adjusting to life without my beloved brother Isaac who left us in December 2019. We also had to face the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic together as a family and adapt to the work-from-home arrangements implemented by our school and workplaces. Thankfully, this also gave us the opportunity to grow as a family and we developed closer relationships with each other and emerged stronger as a unit.

Having me in their family has not been an easy ride for them, but they have always doted on me as their youngest member. On the evening of my birthday last year, my sister Jane specially ordered my favourite cuisine, Indonesian food, from Hunter’s Kitchen and went all the way to pick up the dishes for our family dinner. My mother Grace meticulously orchestrated my celebration which I had requested for because I wanted a home baptism performed by our pastor friend David Ong as it would not be safe for a person living with my condition to be baptised in a church building. My father Joshua gave me his support by accompanying me throughout the evening and saying a special prayer for me as I embarked on my 25^th year, a significant milestone for an individual with Duchenne.

Most of all, I wish to pay tribute to my brother Isaac, who has been my greatest joy these last 25 years. He was a non-speaking autistic person who had Duchenne too, but managed his impairments with tremendous courage and character. He may no longer be in this world, but he continues to live in my heart. I hope to dedicate the rest of my life to honour him by determining to be a disability rights activist in Singapore. Happy Valentine’s Day 2021!